Third Space Commons

Vancouver, British Columbia

Education

Third Space Commons, situated at the University of British Columbia, represents a near-zero carbon building conceived and built for participation in the 2023 U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon Build Challenge. The design approach, construction methodologies, and material choices were meticulously chosen to substantially decrease both embodied and operational carbon. This resulted in a structure that generates as much as 80% fewer carbon emissions in comparison to a building constructed using conventional methods.

Third Space Commons achieved third place overall in the 2023 U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon Build Challenge. Furthermore, it secured first place in the categories of Architecture, Embodied Environmental Impacts & Occupant Experience, second place in Durability & Resilience, and third in Integrated Performance, Comfort, & Environmental Quality. These numerous accolades reflect the dedication of the student-led project team from Third Quadrant Design, driven by a genuine commitment to sustainable design and construction.

Design choices were guided by five core principles: carbon minimalism, circularity, flexibility, living lab, and resilience. The 2,400 square foot wood frame structure was originally conceived as a single-family dwelling for the Solar Decathlon competition. Post-competition, the building was repurposed as a living laboratory and collaborative workspace, enabling students, industry partners, and researchers to further investigate climate-resilient design strategies.

Third Space Commons received support from several industry leaders, including Stantec, Ledcor,, Dialog, RDH, and RJC Engineers. Innotech Windows + Doors contributed to the project as a Construction Partner. We manufactured and installed several Passive House Institute certified windows and a terrace door for the project. The numerous high-performance tilt and turn windows supported the project’s objectives of energy efficiency, daylighting, natural ventilation, and passive cooling.

Innotech collaborated with the project team to integrate upcycled insulated glass units into new window frames. This enabled the team to highlight the significance of adaptive reuse as a feasible approach to mitigate our impact on landfills and the embodied carbon associated with new construction. Other upcycled components incorporated into the build include windows (not manufactured by Innotech), lumber, solar panels, and appliances.

One of the distinctive materials employed in the project is hempcrete, a carbon-negative interior insulation utilized throughout the building. SIGA membranes and tapes, Accoya® wood, and other high-performance and sustainable construction materials were also incorporated. Integrated building systems, such as rainwater harvesting, daylighting strategies, mixed-mode ventilation, and intelligent controls, were additionally integrated to minimize energy consumption.

Third Space Commons received recognition at the inaugural BC Embodied Carbon Awards. The project was the winner of the Small Buildings Award in the Vancouver category.

This net-zero embodied carbon building serves as an outstanding model for the province of British Columbia. It demonstrates the capacity to not only design and construct a low-energy building but also one characterized by very low embodied carbon – representing the ideal building to achieve the targets articulated in the CleanBC climate plan.

Media Coverage

Watch a video produced by Ledcor about the project:

Construction Canada – UBC students build near-zero embodied carbon building from hempcrete, wood, steel

EcoHome – BC’s budding cardon zero building ambitions on track for success at UBC

Hemp Today – Canadian team’s hempcrete building is carbon-minimal, beautiful

Business in Vancouver – Vancouver welcomes first institutional building in Canada made with hemp