Places

Mountain Equipment Co-op

Address:303 Portage Avenue
Constructed:2002
Architects:
  • Prairie Architects Inc.
Engineers:
  • Wolfrom Eng. Ltd. (Structural)
  • Faraci Eng. Ltd. (Mechanical)
  • MCW/AGE (Electrical)
Contractors:
  • Milestone Project Management
Guides:Part of the QR Code Tour

Photographs

More Information

The building incorporated a new two-storey building on the west of the site with an existing three-storey building to the east of the site. Prairie Architects were hired to design the new Mountain Equipment Co-op building at the corner of Portage Avenue and Donald Street. The architects decided to use more than 96% of all materials from recycled de-constructed materials from existing site buildings. Rooftop garden/green roof are irrigated with water held in basement rainwater collection tanks.

The MEC building was certified LEED Gold by the USGBC and was the first LEED certified building in Manitoba.

Perviously the building on the site was known as Genser’s Furniture, the building had to be demolished due to lack of maintenance.

Recognition & Awards

  • Award of Excellence for Innovation in Architecture, from RAIC

  • Pollution Prevention Award of Excellence

  • Award of Excellence, from Canada Energy Efficiency Awards

  • Award of Excellence, from National Post

  • Sustainability Award, from International Downtown Association

  • LEED® Gold

Design Characteristics

Materials:

brick, concrete, limestone, steel, wood

Rubble limestone and brick, timber and steel were reused from the existing building
Fibre-reinforced concrete panels

Height:

2 storeys, 3 storeys

Size:

30,270 square feet (9,226.3 square metres)

Neighbourhood:

Downtown

  • Two and three storeys
  • 96% of the materials used for the building were taken from de-constructed buildings
  • The building’s roof was designed to hold a rooftop garden irrigated by a tank in the basement which collects rainwater
  • Cost of construction: $2.9 Million