Construction Process

The initial site was a large green field, which first required clearing and leveling. Construction began with the development of access roads and basic utilities such as watermains, storm and sanitation facilities.  Site work also included the reconstruction of two major roads adjacent to the property, the development of a new intersection and construction of a large retention pond to manage storm water.  The superstructure was built of load-bearing masonry precast slabs with a roofing of sloped metal and EPDM rubber.  The exterior cladding was stucco and masonry.

The facility was designed to meet LEED Silver standards and incorporated a number of sustainable features such as water-efficient toilets, low-flow faucets and showerheads, high efficiency lighting, double glazed low e-argon windows and high efficiency heating and cooling systems.  External sustainability features include naturalized storm management through landscaping and gardens and an on-site recycling area with easy access to promote the collection of recyclables, thereby diverting waste to landfill sites.

Sustainable construction initiatives included the use of recycled-content and low-emitting materials, as well as certified wood.  Most materials used on this project were manufactured and extracted/harvested within 800 km of the project site.  During construction, a waste management plan was implemented to divert waste from the landfill by recycling and salvaging material.

State of the art mechanical and electrical systems were installed including a 44kV switchgear and distribution systems, heating and cooling systems, domestic water systems, natural gas systems, air handling units, fuel oil piping, building automation systems, security systems and a large backup generator.

As the site is situated in a snowbelt, preparation for and site clearing after snowstorms was key.  Percon developed contingency plans for inclement weather to ensure that construction stayed on schedule and budget.

This project is Percon’s largest project to date and is the County of Simcoe’s first silver LEED certified building.