Health and Social Innovation Centre - UNB Saint John

in progress

University of New Brunswick - Saint John campus is embarking on the construction of the proposed $38M Health and Social Innovation Centre. The centre will enable UNB SJ to fully implement the new Bachelor of Health interdisciplinary undergraduate program and support the university’s Integrated Health Initiative. The new HSIC will be built on the site of the vacant Ward Chipman Library (WCL) which was built in 1969 and is not cost-effective for redevelopment (independent assessment). The existing WCL has a deferred maintenance value of $6.8 million, and nearby affiliated infrastructure another $2.5 million. These two items represent approximately 34% of total deferred maintenance for the campus. The new building has been designed and will be built to green building standards, aiming for a high LEED standard. It has been designed and built with a focus on promoting human and environmental health, considering factors such as location and transportation, sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials, and indoor environmental quality. In addition, the University has hired specialized services to ensure the high efficiency of the building and, ultimately, to reduce its energy footprint. These services include: Enhanced Building Commissioning, Building Envelope Commissioning and Building Life Cycle Impact Reduction. The building will be equipped with geothermal technology and efficient building systems, allowing for significant infrastructure renewal, substantial carbon offset and energy savings, thus adhering to the mandates set forth in New Brunswick’s Climate Change Action. The works on the tunnel and underground infrastructure will also serve as a geothermal network integrator for an expansion of geothermal to other related buildings on the Saint John Campus.