Canada's Greenest Tower Filling Up

Metrotower III—the final phase of the three-tower Burnaby office complex and the first building in Canada to be pre-certified Platinum—is quickly filling up. We dropped by for the latest. (But you'd never know, since we recycled any waste we created while there.)

Ivanhoe Cambridge leasing director Luke Gibson tells us the building's energy efficiency—and resultant cost savings—has been a big draw; Stantec took occupancy of 65k SF of space in late June, and environmental assessment firm Hemmera took 30k SF. Now, 75% of the building remains. It's all about sustainability, Luke says, as companies like knowing what they're doing is "right for the environment." The building will have a tenant-only fitness centre and an "end of trip facility" with bike lockers, showers, and change-rooms

Owner Ivanhoe put $170M into the 29-storey, trophy office building, with over 400k SF of gross leasable area (the entire complex has more than 1M SF). Metrotower III has an HVAC system that exceeds ASHRAE standards, and each tenant has separate power metering. (No blaming another company when it's your own mid-day hair blowouts that jack up the bill.) A stormwater management system is used for irrigation and fountains. And the building will include electric car charging stations.

Metrotower III is also connected to B.C.'s largest shopping centre, Metropolis at Metrotown, with more than 400 shops, services and restaurants. The complex is linked via covered walkway to Metrotower SkyTrain station, further enhancing its green cred.