Village at Griesbach

Built on the site of a former Canadian Forces Base, the Village at Griesbach in Edmonton, Alberta was purchased by Canada Lands Company (CLC) in 2003 from the Department of National Defence. At that time, the 620-acre (251-hectare) site housed more than 50 derelict buildings and 750 Permanent Married Quarters (PMQ) housing units.

CLC tackled the property’s environmental issues by spending more than $1 million removing the hazardous materials. Buildings which were not salvageable were demolished, while those that could be rehabilitated were renovated and retrofitted to provide modern amenities while retaining their unique design. Tonnes of asphalt, gravel and concrete were recycled and reused in the construction of roadbeds, and plans call for an extensive network of parks, trails and four stormwater lakes to provide recreational opportunities for residents.

CLC has also paid tribute to the property’s military heritage. Streets and parks have been named after famous local military heroes and battles in which local military units participated. As well, statues have been erected to commemorate the former base’s namesake, Major-General William Griesbach and his wife, Janet.

Using innovative development practices and design ideas, Village at Griesbach was master planned to be a family-friendly self-sustaining neighbourhood, while maintaining a traditional community character and a profound respect for the land’s military legacy.

This environmentally sensitive community features carefully planned and preserved natural amenities. A section of the Village at Griesbach 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. To learn more about this rating system visit the Canadian Green Building Council at www.cagbc.org.

When the project is completed, as many as 13,000 people will be living and working at the Village at Griesbach – a testament to CLC’s outstanding track record in supporting sustainable development.

LEED Certification

A section of the Village at Griesbach is the recipient of a Stage 2 LEED ND (neighbourhood development) Gold certification.

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.

Village at Griesbach is the first project in Edmonton to receive this prestigious international designation.