Supporting environmental management and a sustainable future

Interest in the environment has grown tremendously and at Western the new Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion will provide hands-on experience for students and researchers interested in “green” technology. Part of the Faculty of Engineering, this green building will house research regarding green technologies, processes and materials and will feature advanced environmentally sustainable construction technologies and methodologies.

The facility features hundreds of probes and other monitoring tools to allow for the measurement of dynamic forces within the structure. Light fixtures and window designs will provide lessons about high efficiency lighting and insulation while sensors in walls and glazed coatings of windows allow for the measurement of internal temperature, moisture and humidity. In addition, the east portion of the roof will be covered in sedum, a living material, to create a green roof while PV arrays and a wind turbine are used as alternative energy sources.

The Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion is named for the late mother to Engineering alumnus Christian Lassonde (BESc’98). The Lassonde Family is making a difference by helping Western to support environmental management and a sustainable future for Canada and the world.

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