Associated Environmental’s hydrogeology team developed the geothermal heating and cooling system for the project, including design and drilling of wells.
Other than a hardwood gymnasium floor sourced from Ontario, the project features 100 per cent B.C.wood, including pine from beetle‐kill affected forests in the Okanagan and FSC-certified lumber sourced from B.C.. The walls are built with composite panels, a combination of concrete and glulam (glued laminated timber) beams that are light and strong. These walls have heating and cooling piping inside with electrical conduits and ventilation built in. This is the first time this technology has been used in North America. All of the building's mechanical and electrical services are exposed, where possible, to demonstrate the technology used. This is part of the building's teaching and "living lab" capability
The eye-catching and energy‐efficient building earned the building the International Architecture Awards’ Green GOOD DESIGN Award from the prestigious European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, and The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design. The project also received the Tree for Life Award and the Award of Excellence from the Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards .