The Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Posted on 04. Oct, 2009 by Shane in Buildings and Structures, Sightseeing, Yellowknife

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The Greenstone Building in downtown Yellowknife is an example of large scale sustainable development in the Northwest Territories and was the first to receive the LEED Gold certification north the 60th parallel. The building’s features include an entire wall built as a photo-voltaic system (see photo below), which was the largest of its kind in Canada when it first opened in 2005. A photo-voltaic system uses solar cells to convert light into electricity. This “sustainable” design, according to Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), is intended to save on energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions estimated to be above 370 tonnes (410 tons) per year. The energy cost savings are then passed along to the taxpayer, which has been estimated to range from $80,000 to $120,000 per year.

Some of the architectural design is reminiscent of the mining heritage of Yellowknife and it features a large wooden wall just inside the building’s front entrance that resembles the interior of a mining shaft. The central stairwell also appears to resemble a mining shaft too. Yellowknife’s Greenstone Building is the workplace of 200+ public servants from the Government of Canada. You can find the PWGSC and many other Government of Canada agencies here. Check out my photos below. Please feel free to comment.

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

DSC09430

Greenstone Building, Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

Greenstone Building in Yellowknife

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5 Responses to “The Greenstone Building in Yellowknife”

  1. Kyle

    04. Oct, 2009

    I love this building. The architecture is amazing. It is also quite unique when it comes to powering itself.

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  2. Shane

    06. Oct, 2009

    Hey Kyle. Yeah, it is a great building. Hope there are more like it in the future.

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  3. Hughie

    11. Oct, 2009

    Hi Shane, I’m really liking your website.

    Are you sure that the Greenstone building attained LEED Gold? I thought it was a LEED Silver building. That aside, i love the architecture to it!

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  4. Shane

    12. Oct, 2009

    Thanks Hughie,

    I have read on the Government and Architect’s websites that it was LEED Gold.

    Shane

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  5. Hughie

    17. Oct, 2009

    Sorry, you are correct it was LEED Gold certified. I’d love to see how it ranks today

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