An Office Building In Canada

Case Study of Venetian Blind Fabric Application in an Office Building in Toronto's Financial District, Canada

Project Background

This new Class-A office building in Toronto's Financial District, Canada, with a total construction area of 32,000 square meters, features a high-transmittance glass curtain wall design. To meet the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) LEED Platinum certification requirements, the client required a shading system that combines extreme climate adaptability, intelligent solar and thermal control, and low-carbon characteristics. 

Client Needs and Challenges

Adaptability to Extreme Cold Weather: Toronto's winter temperatures range from -20°C to 0°C, requiring fabrics with high thermal insulation and anti-icing properties.

Dual Solar and Thermal Control Requirements: Synchronous regulation of light intensity and indoor heat load was required, preventing heat intrusion in summer while maximizing solar heating in winter.

Local Certification and Compliance: The material needed to comply with LEED v4.1 standards and the Ontario Building Code (OBC) requirements.

Solution

Fabric Technical Parameters

Material: 70% Polyester + 30% RM

Insulation: R-value 8.2 (meets OBC requirements for wall insulation in extremely cold regions)

Light Transmittance: Semi-shading and full-shading

Fire Rating: CAN/ULC-S102 certified (Flame Spread Index ≤ 25)

Environmental Certifications: LEED Platinum, C2C Platinum, EU Ecolabel 

Customized Design

BIM Collaborative Design: Accurately simulate the connection between the blind system and the curtain wall structure using the Revit model, ensuring installation tolerances of ≤ 1.5mm.

Carbon-Neutral Installation: Utilizes an electric lift platform equipped with solar panels, achieving zero carbon emissions during construction.

Local Supply Chain Integration: Partnering with EllisDon Engineering to localize the entire process from fabric cutting, frame assembly, and system commissioning. 

Energy Consumption:

Winter heating energy consumption reduced by 37%, and summer cooling load reduced by 24%.

Achieved LEED certification with a score of 102 (Platinum threshold 80 points), and received tax breaks from the City of Toronto.

User Satisfaction:

94% of office workers praised the stable indoor temperature in winter, and 89% were satisfied with the glare reduction in summer.

Facility Director's Comment:

"This system makes the building a truly climate-adaptive entity on the shores of Lake Ontario."