Opened in 2008, our refrigerated distribution centre in Trois-Rivières, Québec was the first in Canada to be built to LEED® standards (LEED® certification pending).

Exterior surfaces allow wastewater to be collected, then filtered to remove oil and other impurities before release to a storm water retaining slow release pond, and then percolated into the groundwater.

In 2008, we opened a 13,650 square metre refrigerated distribution centre in Trois-Rivières, Québec. As the first refrigerated distribution centre in Canada to be built to LEED® standards (LEED® certification pending), it was nominated in 2009 for an Award of Excellence in Architecture by Ordre des architectes du Québec.

The distribution centre contains many unique and industry-leading design features. A few of the most important are:

  • Energy saving technology and equipment such as a motion-activated lighting system, T5 lighting in the building’s interior, fast charge battery charging for forklifts, and high performance insulated translucent plastic that permits natural light to enter the building without compromising the building’s interior temperature.
  • A refrigeration system that uses 33% less refrigerant than conventional refrigeration systems. Heat from the refrigeration system is used to warm the office spaces in the winter.
  • When determining the size of refrigeration system required for the facility, refrigeration calculations took into account the in-coming temperature of the product to be stored at the facility. The result was a smaller more energy efficient refrigeration system that leverages the products’ thermal mass to maintain the right building temperature.
  • The facility’s wastewater is treated by an onsite 30 by 15 metre reed bed containing phragmite communis (a tall grass) that removes biological waste. The reed bed’s natural filtering system returns the wastewater’s condition to Ministry of the Environment standards.
  • Landscaping with natural vegetation instead of grass to eliminate the need to irrigate.
  • Ammonia coolant is used in the mechanical room, while glycol refrigerant circulates in the plant. In the event of a mechanical room ammonia leak, the ammonia, which does not contain greenhouse causing gases, can be vented without contributing to global warming.
  • Exterior surfaces are paved with light-coloured rolled, compacted concrete which allows wastewater to percolate through the paving to a storm water collection system. There it is filtered to remove oil and other impurities, released to a storm water retaining slow release pond, and then percolated into the groundwater.
  • Waterless urinals and low-flow toilets, faucets, and showers are installed in the bathrooms to conserve water.
  • A white, or “cool”, roof has been installed over the warehouse portion of the building. White roofs reduce solar heat transfer to the building, which reduces refrigeration and associated electricity demands. A cool roof also helps to reduce the heat island effect – the tendency of man-made structures to attract and retain heat at a higher rate than is normal in nature, which increases ground-level ozone production.
  • A green, or “living”, roof has been installed over the office area of the building. The green roof has a similar solar heat transfer and reduction quality as a white roof. It also reduces storm water run-off while filtering pollutants and carbon dioxide from the air and pollutants and heavy metals from rainwater. The green roof’s water retention capacity is being evaluated for possible store applications or as a storm water catch basin alternative.
  • An exterior green wall on which vegetation is planted. The plants provide aesthetic value and are used to reduce the overall temperature of the building, which in turn reduces energy consumption.

During simulations, the combined affect of these features resulted in energy demands that were 55% less than a similarly sized refrigerated distribution centre in Québec.