Waterloo North Hydro Goes Green

July 28, 2010
Gail Martin - Independent Editor

Waterloo North Hydro is getting ready for growth.

Last week, the local hydro service provider - which has as its shareholders Woolwich and Wellesley townships, as well as the city of Waterloo - held a groundbreaking ceremony for what will be a state-of-the-art administrative centre, one that will incorporate the best of environmental design.

The new 104,000 square foot building will be built on Country Squire Road in Woolwich Township, moving just down the road from its current location on Northfield Drive.
According to Rene Gatien, president and CEO of Waterloo North Hydro, it's just in time.

The current building is bursting at the seams, with new employees being relegated to setting up desks in various corners and nooks - with the latest hire currently working out of the file records room.
"Everything is bursting," said Gatien. "We are just out of room."

Board members of Waterloo North Hydro looked at several options before choosing to build a new building, including expanding at the current location. However, the Northfield Drive property is pie-shaped, limiting how much expansion could take place.

The new property on Country Squire Road is also looking towards the future, said Gatien, in that it has enough space for a transformer to be built, something that will be needed as both north Waterloo and Woolwich experience continued growth.

"We believe that the folks coming behind us will be happy we decided to build with this in mind," said Gatien. The new building will be designed to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver standard, incorporating everything from a geothermal heating and cooling system to the recovered barn boards from the previous property owner.

Once the building is complete, Gatien hopes that they will be able to develop a trail network for Waterloo North Hydro employees. The building will overlook the Conestogo River valley, giving employees a fantastic view.
There has also been some thought towards working with the Ontario Centre of Excellence to test the efficiency of various wind turbines in the new location, which enjoys a brisk breeze because of its height over the valley.
Gatien said that while the LEED standard means that the building will be a little more expensive to build, he is glad that the board supported this move.

"If we're saying we're leaders in environmental excellence, we have to build a LEED building," said Gatien.
At the groundbreaking ceremony on July 21, local mayors went out of their way to congratulate Waterloo North Hydro on its new building, although Woolwich mayor Bill Strauss was prouder than most.

"On behalf of Woolwich Township, I want to say welcome each one of you here to my beautiful township," said Strauss. "It's a real pleasure to be here, and a real pleasure to welcome Waterloo North Hydro."
Board member Chuck Martin, who also lives in Elmira, said that the new building represents the energy and vision of those at the helm at Waterloo North Hydro.

"Thank you for your effort and foresight in building this building," said Martin. "It's not only meeting the needs of today, but also the needs of the future."
The building, which will be constructed by Melloul-Blamey Construction, is expected to cost $26 million. It will be complete by November 2011.  (source KW Record)