C. K. Choi Building


The C. K. Choi Building is an educational building on the campus of the University of British Columbia known for its sustainable design features. Named for businessman and philanthropist Dr. Cheung-Kok Choi, the building houses UBC's Institute of Asian Research. The architecture of the building implements Asian motifs.
WWW iar.ubc.ca

Institute of Asian Research

The Institute of Asian Research, headquartered in the C. K. Choi building, is a research institute founded in 1978 as a major Canadian research centre for Asia.

Design team

Sustainable features

The C. K. Choi building was designed to be sustainable and energy-efficient. Its sustainable features include:
  • Location: built on an existing parking lot surrounded by large trees to reduce heat gain
  • Form: narrow profile to minimize site impact and provide natural light inside
  • Recycling: approximately 50% of building materials were recycled or re-used
  • Sanitation: composting toilets were initially used, but were removed when the compost was found to be detrimental to the environment
  • Stormwater: the building's gutters collect water in a tank for irrigation purposes
  • Energy: sensors turn off lights when not in use, heavy use of insulation preserves indoor temperature, steam vault utilizes waste heat
  • Finishes: most interior surfaces use minimal material, such as unpainted metal and a lack of suspended ceilings
  • Air quality: carpet adhesives and solvent finishes were not used in construction, to minimize air pollution
  • Ventilation: ventilation is non-mechanical and provides fresh air from windows
  • Heat: surplus heat radiating into the ground is collected and utilized
  • Electricity: uses only surplus electricity from adjacent buildings

Awards