Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, Smith Carter Architects & Engineers, Transsolar KlimaEngineering
Manitoba Hydro Place is the most energy efficient tower in North America and a model of urban, bioclimatic integrated design. In addition to massive energy savings (66% better than the MNECB), urban revitalization was a key objective of Manitoba Hydro for bringing 2000 employees from the suburbs into its new headquarters in downtown Winnipeg. The design prioritizes the creation of spaces for public use, including a new urban park and a three-storey street-level Public Galleria which functions both as a sheltered pedestrian route and major event space. The iconic ‘Capital A’ form and its Solar Chimney has redefined the city’s skyline and become a focal point of downtown activity.
photo: Tom Arban
photo: Eduard Hueber
photo: Paul Hultberg
photo: Rebecca Croft
photo: Eduard Hueber
“Manitoba Hydro Place represents impeccable sustainability credentials in a beautifully sculpted building. The sustainability seems to be well integrated into the design of the buildings. We see this project as an incentive to revitalize the downtown, and to encourage Manitoba Hydro employees to take public transit.”