Sustainable Schooling

In May 2010, the City of Montréal approved a request from McGill University, one of the nation’s top schools, to convert a public street adjacent to the campus into a pedestrian zone. This proposal was one of many they had been working on for quite some time to try to eliminate parking, increase bicycle transportation to the campus, and phase out vehicle circulation in the process. The bylaw started a domino effect, and before long dozens of McGill initiatives were not just being discussed but acted on. A greener, friendlier environment was created, and both the McGill and local Montréal communities have taken away enormous benefits from the sustainable upgrades.

“Since we received approval to eliminate parking on the lower campus, we’ve been experimenting with alternative surfaces for the former roadways, which could contribute further to encouraging the popularity of the site to pedestrians,” says Chuck Adler, director of campus and space planning, who has worked with the university for more than 35 years. “We’ve also considered narrowing the roadways to reduce vehicular speeds, reducing the heat-island effect through greenery, and are working to reduce the amount of hard surfaces towards better stormwater management.”

McGill’s administrative and academic staff began working together to grow the university’s commitment to sustainability by drafting a Green Plan in the early 1990s. New initiatives were created, including several energy-efficiency projects and the launch of a paper-recycling system.

“By the late 1990s, via a student initiative, the university undertook the development of an environmental policy,” Adler says. “The multistakeholder Environmental Policy Workgroup consisted of staff, students, and faculty, and drafted a proposed environmental policy that was approved by McGill’s Senate in 2001.”

This environmental policy led to further programs, such as a paper-use policy, a campus farmer’s market, an annual Rethink conference on sustainable practices, and the creation of the Office of Sustainability. “Some of our facilities-related practices include sustainable construction and renovation principles, the use of Green Seal/EcoLogo-certified cleaning products, and landscaping practices that mitigate environmental impact,” Adler says.

The university has also made a commitment to energy efficiency, which garnered recognition from the Office of Energy Efficiency of Natural Resources Canada, and boasts one of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per capita (from stationary combustion) in North America.

In 2008, McGill took its commitment one step further and attempted the first LEED certification on the new 340,000-square-foot Life Sciences Complex. The $100 million project includes several energy-efficient features, including McGill’s first green roof. “The director of construction at the time had signed up to be one of the first university members of the Canada Green Building Council, and the timing was fortunate since the Life Sciences Complex was in its design phase,” Adler says. “We anticipate that the building will achieve LEED Silver.”

Adler’s passion for making McGill a greener university actually extends beyond his years as an administrator. Adler received both his bachelor’s degree in engineering and master’s in urban planning from McGill. “When I was a student at McGill, we pushed for the elimination of parking on our main campus,” he says. Now, thanks to his dedication and the open minds of the students and staff, Adler has seen his dream realized. “What once was a parking lot is now a pleasant pedestrian zone full of flowers and the canopy of nearby trees,” he says. “All of our work has been rewarding, but it was nice to finally see this particular change happen.”