Designing HVAC systems for large, mixed-use facilities is never easy, but imagine if that design had to meet the diverse needs of both a university and a community center all within the same building.

That was the challenge faced by MCW Consultants Ltd. when the engineering firm was asked to design the HVAC systems for a satellite campus of Trinity Western University (TWU) and the new City Centre Community Centre in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. The community center would occupy the first two floors of the four-story building, and the university would occupy the two floors directly overhead. The rooftop would be visible from neighboring buildings, including upscale residential high-rises and commercial real estate, all situated in an area conceived to showcase an urban lifestyle, culture, and sustainability. The decision to pursue LEED Gold certification for the community center ramped up the challenge even further.