Since its establishment in 1912, the Sidney Centre for Plant Health has served as a hub of horticultural research and testing – it is Canada’s only post-entry quarantine, research and diagnostic facility for imported plant material; responsible for ensuring the safe introduction of foreign plant material into Canada.  This project replaces several of the 40 century-old buildings spread out over 48 hectares of land with one large, high-performing, modern building that consolidates laboratories, greenhouses, and office space.

This new, world-class facility provides the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) scientists and collaborators with state-of-the-art amenities and tools to advance plant science while supporting Canadian agriculture, global trade, and economic growth. The facility also demonstrates environmental leadership and a commitment to honouring local First Nations.

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Laboratories Canada set ambitious performance-based goals for the project, pushing the design team to innovate and develop unique solutions tailored to meet the desired outcomes. By applying creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration, the team explored various approaches and validated their effectiveness to ensure the project’s success. Throughout the design process, WSP adhered to six guiding principles as outlined in the new Labs Canada Long Term Vision and Plan published at the project’s outset. The result is a high-performance building that achieves energy efficiency, durability, life-cycle performance and occupant comfort well above the standard.

As Prime Consultant, WSP led the multidisciplinary design team and provided nearly all the engineering and sustainability consulting services required to deliver the project.

This project encompassed three critical components: 1) wet laboratories for plant science, research, and diagnostics, 2) greenhouses and growth chambers, and 3) office and administrative spaces. Each area required a unique approach and distinct engineering and architectural solutions tailored to their specific work environments.

The early collaborative engagement with multiple stakeholders was crucial in overcoming technical challenges and ensuring the project’s success and world-class design.

Additionally, the client prioritized managing carbon and long-term operational costs. From the beginning, WSP explored ways to reduce energy costs and create a low-carbon building. Our goal was to minimize carbon impact without compromising performance, cost, or programmatic needs, while adhering to evolving compliance requirements like the green government strategy.

From tackling site challenges to implementing a complex geothermal system – this project exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to design. The building is Future Ready – designed and constructed to be prepared for today’s needs as well as withstand and adapt to future challenges. WSP developed long-term solutions, integrating key principles of resilience, sustainability, durability, flexibility and adaptability. The holistic approach considered the entire building lifecycle while seamlessly integrating sustainability and functionality – proving that innovation and environmental responsibility can coexist.

The project highlights the success of integrating sustainability into every aspect of a building – demonstrating how high-performance buildings can transform our work and living environments. The project achieved 37% energy savings, exceeding the 28% goal; and the TEDI was reduced by 60%, double the target. The Centre for Plant Health is designed for a 50-100 year lifespan to meet long-term research needs and advances PSPC and Labs Canada’s mission to modernize federal science infrastructure.