Green Somerset building wins Brownie Award; Development: Environmentally- friendly design is a first of its kind in Atlantic Canada
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Somerset Square, a Commercial Properties Ltd. building, has won a 2009 Brownie Award for best small-scale development by the Canadian Urban Institute.
"Everyone involved with Somerset Square, from the designers and builders, to our tenants, to members of the community who have toured the building, should be extremely proud of what this building has accomplished in terms of sustainable design," said the company's property manager Jeffrey Yerxa.
"It is great to know that the many design and construction considerations we undertook developing this property have also been recognized by our colleagues and peers across the country."
The award winners were announced this week at a gala dinner in Vancouver, B. C., as part of the 10th annual Canadian Brownfields conference.
The institute's Brownie Awards program recognizes leadership and innovation in redevelopments of old industrial sites, or brownfields. Only six Brownie Awards are given out each year in Canada.
Located at 130 Somerset St. at the corner of Wellesley Avenue, the building recently achieved Gold status in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), making it the first private-sector development of its kind in Atlantic Canada and one of only 18 certified LEED Gold buildings in Canada.
The property used to house a gas station.
The institute's awards jury is comprised of representatives from 10 professional and industry associations. In addition to the Canadian Urban Institute and Canadian Brownfields Network, the jury includes representatives from the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.
"It means a great deal to us that this building has been recognized by such an esteemed panel," Yerxa said.
Somerset Square joins other award-winning properties in the Commercial Properties portfolio. The Saint John company has also developed and manages Brunswick House, Saint John's first high-rise and recipient of a BOMA BESt certificate. It also redeveloped the historic buildings at the foot of King Street, including heritage properties that wrap right around the block. CenterBeam Place is a multiple Brownie Award winner.
Commercial Properties has been developing and managing properties in Eastern Canada for more than 40 years.
The company owns or manages over 40 properties, specializing in office, retail, commercial and industrial buildings.