Village at Griesbach receives prestigious international environmental certification

Canada Lands Company CLC Limited (CLC) today announced that a section of its Village at Griesbach real estate development project is the recipient of a Stage 2 LEED ND (neighbourhood development) Gold certification. Village at Griesbach is the first project in Edmonton to receive this prestigious international designation.

The Village at Griesbach is built on the site of a former Canadian Forces Base in Edmonton, which was purchased by CLC in 2003 from the Department of National Defence. When the project is completed, as many as 13,000 people will be living and working at the Village at Griesbach.

The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building rating system is a certification program for the design, construction and operation of high performance sustainable buildings and developments. Developed jointly by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), the Congress for New Urbanism and the Natural Resources Defence Council, the Neighborhood Development certification is a new rating system that integrates the principles of smart growth, new urbanism and green building for neighbourhood design. Village at Griesbach received a Stage 2 LEED ND (neighbourhood development) Gold certification for an approved plan.

“CLC was part of the pilot project that defined the criteria by which other LEED certified neighbourhoods throughout North America will be measured. Residents of Edmonton should take a bow – through this certification, their city is helping shape a global standard,” said CLC’s President and CEO, Mark Laroche.

“The transformation from a military base to a magnificent new community is a perfect example of the kind of development Edmontonians support. Energy efficient, environmentally sustainable, and thanks to smart planning, lush, green and walkable. It helps confirm Edmonton’s environmental leadership,” said Mayor Stephen Mandel. “Congratulations to CLC for building one of Alberta’s first LEED-certified communities."

“CLC has demonstrated leadership at the Village at Griesbach by achieving a LEED ND Gold certification. This certification provides independent, third-party verification that the Village at Griesbach's location and design meet accepted high levels of environmental responsibility and sustainable development,” said Tanya Doran, Executive Director of the Alberta Chapter - Canada Green Building Council. “Residents of the new community will reap the rewards of CLC’s leadership as they enjoy the many amenities made possible through the implementation of the integrated LEED ND principles.”

The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) was approached by industry leaders and local governments across the country to introduce LEED ND into Canada.  It has engaged a number of Canadian real estate development projects, including the Village at Griesbach, to take part in the USGBC LEED ND pilot program to inform the adaptation of the rating system in Canada. The LEED ND Certification is granted in this case by the USGBC, as Griesbach was part of the pilot phase.  LEED ND is scheduled to be launched in Canada by the CaGBC in summer 2010.

CLC has other projects registered with LEED ND’s pilot program, including its Currie Barracks development in Calgary. Currie Barracks received a Stage 2 LEED ND Gold certification for an approved plan in October 2008.

CLC is a federal Crown corporation that optimizes the financial and community value obtained from surplus strategic properties no longer required by the Government of Canada. The company is self-financing and implements innovative, sustainable property solutions to create strong and competitive communities wherever it operates.

For more information on CLC, visit www.clc.ca.

For more information on Village at Griesbach, visit: www.villageatgriesbach.com.

For more information on the Canadian Green Building Council, visit: www.cagbc.org

The CaGBC is a national non-profit organization founded in December 2002.  The CaGBC is affiliated with the US Green Building Council as the sole license holder for LEED® in Canada and as such is the developer and administrator of LEED products in Canada.

(416) 952-6111 or gmcivor@clc.ca