Macdonald Zuberec Ensslen Architects, Inc.

Ball's Falls Conservation Area is part of the Provincial Conservation Authority's Nodal Park System - providing public education and awareness of the Niagara Escarpment.
The new $3.2 million, 12,300SF, Centre for Conservation, with it's location on the Niagara Escarpment, will serve as a public entry point to the 20 Valley World Biosphere Reserve and the preserved heritage settlement.

The new facility will feature exhibits, displays and learning centres. The building itself is designed as a teaching tool to demonstrate conservation initiatives through design features and day-to-day operation of the facility.
This project has employed the environmentally considerate principals of sustainable design as mandated by LEED® and has achieved GOLD Certification (46 points).

Sustainable Design Features include:
60.7% reduced energy consumption when measured against the energy performance described by the Model National Energy Code for Buildings – amounting to approx. $15,830.00 per year in energy costs. This project received close to $60,000.00 in government funding to support energy efficient design initiatives.

Heating and cooling is provided for by a ground source heat exchanger – no fossil fuels or electricity to create heat.
Rainwater is collected from the roof and used for non-potable water activities (flushing water conserving low-flow toilets) - water consumption will be reduced by 72%.
Passive air exchange through operable windows for shoulder season or night-time cooling - air from the opening windows on the cooler north side, low to the ground, will be pulled through the interior and exhaust through high windows on the south side.
Southerly oriented windows and large roof overhangs - permits the low winter sun to penetrate deep into the building interior, yet, prevents the high summer sun from over heating the interior.
On site wastewater treatment – the Waterloo Bio-filter Treatment System uses an aerobic process to reduce the organic and nitrogen load of the septic effluent prior to its release back into the environment. Provisions were made for the future installation of a UV sterilizer to re-circulate the treated effluent for non-potable uses.
Many of the locally produced building materials used as the finished interior surface: stained concrete floors, stained Glulam beams, painted interior surface of the structural insulated panels, pigmented concrete block, and the like. 43% of the materials used were manufactured / sourced from within 800 km of the site.


		M	acdonald
		Z	uberec
		E	nsslen A r c h i t e c t s I n c .
	39 Queen Street, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, L2R 2H8		*CENTRE for CONSERVATION at BALL'S FALLS CONSERVATION AREA*
			Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, Jordon, Ontario "...a testiment to the future of green construction." Toronto Star
	PROJECT STATS LEED GOLD Certified - 46 points $3,688,000.00 construction costs 1,200sm gross building area A W A R D S SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING Magazine, 2008 Niagara Region Community Design, Award of Distinction, 2008 ...more images



			ABOUT MZE Brochure The Firm Contact	Ball's Falls Conservation Area is part of the Provincial Conservation Authority's Nodal Park System - providing public education and awareness of the Niagara Escarpment. The new $3.2 million, 12,300SF, Centre for Conservation, with it's location on the Niagara Escarpment, will serve as a public entry point to the 20 Valley World Biosphere Reserve and the preserved heritage settlement. The new facility will feature exhibits, displays and learning centres. The building itself is designed as a teaching tool to demonstrate conservation initiatives through design features and day-to-day operation of the facility. This project has employed the environmentally considerate principals of sustainable design as mandated by LEED® and has achieved GOLD Certification (46 points). Sustainable Design Features include: 60.7% reduced energy consumption when measured against the energy performance described by the Model National Energy Code for Buildings – amounting to approx. $15,830.00 per year in energy costs. This project received close to $60,000.00 in government funding to support energy efficient design initiatives. Heating and cooling is provided for by a ground source heat exchanger – no fossil fuels or electricity to create heat. Rainwater is collected from the roof and used for non-potable water activities (flushing water conserving low-flow toilets) - water consumption will be reduced by 72%. Passive air exchange through operable windows for shoulder season or night-time cooling - air from the opening windows on the cooler north side, low to the ground, will be pulled through the interior and exhaust through high windows on the south side. Southerly oriented windows and large roof overhangs - permits the low winter sun to penetrate deep into the building interior, yet, prevents the high summer sun from over heating the interior. On site wastewater treatment – the Waterloo Bio-filter Treatment System uses an aerobic process to reduce the organic and nitrogen load of the septic effluent prior to its release back into the environment. Provisions were made for the future installation of a UV sterilizer to re-circulate the treated effluent for non-potable uses. Many of the locally produced building materials used as the finished interior surface: stained concrete floors, stained Glulam beams, painted interior surface of the structural insulated panels, pigmented concrete block, and the like. 43% of the materials used were manufactured / sourced from within 800 km of the site.
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