The McGill University Collections Centre (MUCC), a new off-campus storage facility housing a significant portion of the McGill Library’s collections, has been awarded LEED Gold certification.
LEED is the world’s most widely used green-building rating system, and Gold certification is the second-highest rating.
“This achievement is in line with our Climate and Sustainability Strategy (2020-2025), which aims to incorporate LEED requirements into new construction and major renovation projects,” said François Miller, McGill’s Executive Director of Sustainability.
The new building earned LEED Gold certification thanks to its energy conservation, water-use reduction, enhanced indoor air quality and reduced impact on the surrounding environment.
State-of-the-art with sustainability
Located in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, west of Montreal, the MUCC currently holds 2.4 million items. Once McGill Library’s book retrieval service launches this summer, users will be able to request stored items for delivery to McGill’s downtown or Macdonald campus five days a week.
The facility’s automated storage and retrieval system boasts six robots, yet running them over a 24-hour shift consumes less energy than using a vacuum cleaner for 30 minutes. The energy-efficient building also has low-maintenance exterior grounds, uses electric delivery vehicles, and the contract to move its millions of items was awarded to a company adhering to McGill’s sustainability goals.
“I am immensely proud of this significant milestone for McGill and its libraries,” said Guylaine Beaudry, Trenholme Dean of Libraries. “It demonstrates our ability to plan, build and manage infrastructure that not only caters to the contemporary needs of collection management, but serves as a tangible example of McGill’s dedication to environmental stewardship.”
This is McGill’s fifth project to be LEED-certified; three additional buildings are also pursuing LEED certification.
“We are pleased to deliver this innovative project within the approved budget and achieving LEED Gold certification,” said Robert Hamilton, Executive Director of the Fiat Lux Library Project. Hamilton credits Paul Guenther, Senior Project Manager, for being a key part of the initiative’s success.
More library updates to come
The MUCC is the first phase of the McGill Library’s redevelopment project, which will nearly double study and workspace for students.
The second phase of the Fiat Lux Library Project will transform the McLennan-Redpath complex into a light-filled, largely open-concept space.