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Nicola Valley Institute of Technology

Overview

• Location: Merritt, BC, Canada
• Building type(s): Campus, Higher education, Park
• New construction
• 48,600 ft2 (4,520 m2)
• Project scope: 3-story building
• Rural setting
• Completed January 2002
• Rating: CBIP: Commercial Building Incentive Program --Level: 27% below MNECB

The new home of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT), also known as Eagle's Perch Campus, offers state-of-the-art learning spaces. NIVT aims to address community needs such as wellness, governance, and land and economic development.

The school actively explores knowledge from a First Nation perspective, promoting traditional ways of learning in a rapidly changing world. The school has its roots in the Thompson and Okanogan Nations but attracts First Nation students from across Canada. As a result, 77% of the student body and 84% of the building's occupants are of First Nation descent. Although the primary portion of the student body consists of First Nations students, NVIT welcomes all those seeking to further their education in a holistic and rich tradition based learning environment.

Environmental Aspects

NVIT was designed to exceed the ASHRAE energy-efficiency standards by 35% by taking advantage of an efficient envelope, solar control, thermal mass, and natural ventilation. The building's strategies for employing solar control and thermal mass were inspired by elements from shelters of local native peoples; specifically, the pit house and extended teepee served as models. NVIT's wood-column structural system supporting concrete recalls pithouse poles rising up through the interior space.

A glazed ventilation stack with operable windows is central to both the natural ventilation and the daylighting strategies for the building. Tensioned fabric is used in the ventilation stack and the front entrance canopy for shading, referencing stretched skins as another element of First Nation design.

Owner & Occupancy

• Owned and occupied by University College of the Cariboo, Corporation, nonprofit
• Typically occupied by 300 people

The 300 occupants include 240 students, 30 to 40 instructors, 3 managers, and 15 to 20 support staff.

Keywords

Integrated team, Simulation, Green specifications, Contracting, Performance measurement and verification, Operations and maintenance, Open space preservation, Indigenous vegetation, Stormwater management, Efficient irrigation, Drought-tolerant landscaping, Massing and orientation, Durability, Recycled materials, Local materials, Certified wood, Occupant recycling, Connection to outdoors, Daylighting, Natural ventilation, Moisture control, Low-emitting materials

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