Our Natural
Materials Masterpiece
Arbora in Montreal, Quebec is one of the most recent additions to our multi-family residential
portfolio.
It is one of the first buildings in Québec to be built with local, eco-friendly solid wood frame of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels from the boreal forests of northern Québec. CLT is a proven
technology known for its strength
and performance in terms of energy efficiency and acoustics.
Arbora was designed to celebrate the natural materials used in its construction. The building
features exposed wooden beams and posts, hardwood flooring, and stone surfaces throughout. It also
features ample windows providing an
abundance of natural light, 9-foot ceilings, and an on-site green space.
Arbora is also Certified LEED® Platinum for Homes – a first for Oxford’s multi-family
residential portfolio.
Reducing Single
Use Plastics
A simple solution that reduces plastic water bottles and enhances the customer experience.
That’s what the team at MetroCentre – a two building complex located in Toronto, Canada –
achieved by installing refillable water bottle stations within the lobbies of the buildings.
By creating a place for customers to refill their water bottles, the team a strong step forward on
sustainability by reducing the amount of plastic water bottles that get sent to landfill. To celebrate
the launch of this
initiative, the property team distributed complimentary water bottles to customers, spreading
awareness about the filling stations and getting them started off on the right foot with a branded
MetroCentre refillable bottle of their
own.
Taking a
Precautionary Approach
How do we dig deeper and explore potential health aspects of the materials we procure and use in our
buildings?
That’s the question that a global team of Oxford colleagues interrogated in 2018. The team set a goal
of developing a Restricted Materials List, based on the best available research, in order to ‘future
proof’ our buildings by
getting ahead of an important emerging trend.
So what did they come up with? Here is the list of 5 Restricted Materials that will be piloted across
select Oxford development projects in 2019: (1) Formaldehyde, (2) Antimicrobials, (3) Halogenated
Flame Retardants, (4)
Phthalates, and (5) Highly Fluorinated Chemicals.
Each pilot project team will introduce the list in their procurement process and engage in a dialogue
with key partners. At the end of the year, the group will share their experience with the list,
including availability of
alternatives and impact on performance criteria (eg. cost, design/aesthetic) and refine the list for
future use.
Waste Reduction
Week Leadership
You get out of it what you put into it.
That’s what the Green Team at Yorkdale proved with their efforts during the 2018 Waste Reduction
Week. The team collaborated and came up with creative ideas to profile a different theme every day –
from updating their “Waste
Reduction & Recycling Program” Guide, to refreshing and circulating their “Put Waste in its Place”
Posters to all our Food, Office, and Retailers, to creating a special textiles and e-waste recycling
event. The team also took an
internal Yorkdale Food Waste Pledge and put up new signage in their food court to encourage customers
to use the real dishware and cutlery provided when dining in vs. take out packaging.
Posting their efforts a blog on the Yorkdale website provided an additional boost and profile to the
team’s efforts. All in all, a good week for waste awareness and action at Yorkdale!
Lightening our
Water Footprint
Our residential teams are paying attention to the details when it comes to water.
The team implemented a broad range of measures over the past several years across ~4400 units in
Canada. This included the installation of aerators in taps and the replacement of toilets and
showerheads.
The project was piloted first in a suite, then a floor then a building. After it was a proven
success, it was rolled out across our portfolio. Total water consumption was reduced by over 30% with
a payback of less than 5 years. The
project also translated into gas savings, as less hot water was used as a result of the new
showerheads and aerators.
And it’s important to note, the water savings did not occur at the expense of resident comfort -
total service calls were actually reduced after the installation of low flow toilets.
A win-win-win for our customers, the environment and Oxford!
Leading the Way
in Waste
Want to improve your waste diversion rate without spending a lot of operating costs?
Our waste stars at Centennial Place in Calgary have proven that they have what it takes, achieving a
94% diversion rate in 2019. And they are not shy about sharing their insights with their colleagues.
So what’s their secret? It took a lot of trial and error, but here are some of their tips: (1)
Identify areas where you can save or create revenue. (2) Gather your data and target low hanging fruit
(3) Engage in more active
management – and even additional sorting – of your waste streams (4) Engage your customers with a
scorecard and active challenges – make them active partners in your success. (5) Ensure you have the
right bins in the right areas for
your customers, and (6) Review your marketing often (it is surprising how quickly it can become out of
date).
And last but not least, is the team’s passion and commitment – great leadership from a great
team!