September 18, 2025
The University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) building at 200 Lees Avenue has officially achieved LEED v4 BD+C Platinum certification, marking a significant milestone in sustainable campus development and healthcare education in Canada and one of only a handful of projects to achieve LEED Platinum in the province.
Designed by Architecture49 in collaboration with WSP and PCL Constructors Canada Inc., the five-storey, 23,450 m² facility is a clear example of thoughtful design, environmental responsibility, and forward-looking academic planning. Situated along the Rideau River, the building brings together five academic units: Nursing, Nutrition Sciences, Rehabilitation Sciences, Human Kinetics, and the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences. It creates a purpose-built environment that encourages collaboration, supports critical inquiry, and strengthens connections across disciplines.
The LEED Platinum certification, reflects the building’s exceptional performance across multiple sustainability metrics. Compared to typical institutional buildings, the FHS facility uses 57.2 percent less energy and produces 57.8 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions, with a Thermal Energy Demand Intensity (TEDI) of just 37.6 kWh/m².
According to Marin Katov, Principal at Architecture49, sustainability was a core project goal from the outset, guiding decisions from building orientation and material selection to building envelope detailing. The result is a series of integrated strategies, beginning with a thermal envelope that places insulation outside the main structure to maximize efficiency. Window coverage was limited to just 25.7 percent of the building envelope, a reduction driven by the building program, as certain lab spaces required fewer windows, while carefully placed glazing and taller openings ensure interiors remain bright and functional. This balance between function and form shaped the building’s architectural language. The exterior’s blue and white palette, chosen for its calming associations in healthcare, reinforces the building’s design as a gateway to the university’s new River Campus and downtown Ottawa.
Operational data confirms these strategies are delivering as intended. According to Giuliano Todesco, the university’s energy specialist, the building’s thermal energy intensity after its first full year of use was just 53 ekWh/m²/year, well below comparable facilities, while peak heating loads were measured at 350–500 kW, significantly lower than the predicted 650 kW.
Sustainability extends beyond the envelope. The roof includes a solar array that is part of a university research initiative and has been designed to expand across the entire roof in future phases. The landscape design supports active transportation with covered bike shelters and connects to city bike paths. It also incorporates Indigenous elements, including a teaching circle and a healing garden with native herbs and plants. A birch grove along the river features walking paths and seating areas, reflecting the site’s cultural history and commitment to inclusive design.
In addition to its sustainability achievements, the building advances healthcare education through dry and wet labs, simulation suites, hospital-like training spaces, and fully outfitted living quarters for occupational therapy instruction. These immersive, collaborative environments prepare students for clinical and research challenges across fields such as biomechanics, neuroscience, nutrition, and Indigenous health. With demand for skilled practitioners rising across Canada, the facility equips graduates to work across disciplines, adapt to emerging technologies, and address complex health challenges, while underscoring the role of sustainability in the future of healthcare and community well-being.
The project’s quality and impact have also been recognized internationally, with the building shortlisted for the UK’ based CIBSE 2024 Façade Aaward in the Project of the Year – New Build International Category. Other shortlisted firms included global leaders such as Renzo Piano, Snøhetta, and Populous, highlighting the strength of uOttawa’s achievement.
“Our students will have an advantage because they will be trained in settings that replicate the environments which they’ll be working in,” said Lucie Thibault, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Transforming an underutilized site into a lively academic hub, uOttawa underscores its focus on sustainability, innovation, and social impact. The Faculty of Health Sciences demonstrates how academic facilities can promote healthcare education while contributing to the well-being of communities and the environment.