From the beginning of the Glenbow Reimagined project, we knew tearing the building down wasn’t the right solution. Despite its age, Glenbow and our partners recognized the value and potential green solutions in rehabilitating the existing building – including cost savings and reduced environmental impact.
We’ve also found through the renovation that the building is significantly overbuilt. As Nicholas Bell, Glenbow’s President & CEO recently said in an interview: “a gobsmacking amount of concrete was used in its construction.” This means most areas of the building used significantly more concrete than needed. We like to joke that if the decision was made to tear the building down, we’d probably still be working through the concrete.
By reusing our existing building and transforming it into the JR Shaw Centre for Arts & Culture, Glenbow is focusing on environmental sustainability, financial stability, and supporting Calgary’s economy.
By reusing the existing building, we’re preventing:
- 56,000 tons of new carbon being produced over the lifespan of the building.
- 38,000 tons of concrete from reaching the landfill.
Where possible, we’ve also looked for local companies to support the project. This includes the lead architect, development manager, and construction company. Even the new façade is being manufactured right here in southeast Calgary by Heavy. This local sourcing, especially for the building envelope, is helping reduce the project’s reliance on supply chains in a time of international volatility.
Planning for the future
With our project partners, Glenbow has considered future risks and hazards associated with climate change and has integrated mitigation strategies into the building’s design to increase its resilience and ensure a sustainable future.
The new building envelope and internal systems – like a new HVAC system – will help Glenbow realize:
- 41% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions annually.
- 38% reduction in annual energy use.
As caretakers of art, objects, and cultural belongings, we want to ensure we’re stewards of environmental sustainability, too. Glenbow aims to be a partner in stewarding collections, environment, and accessibility into the future.
