Citypoint is the largest LEED-certified residential project in BC. With 452 homes in two towers of 21 and 25 storeys, Century Group’s Citypoint remains a model for energy-efficient housing.

Century Group started on the path to urban revitalization more than a decade ago with the Oliva project in Tsawwassen and Citypoint in Surrey. At the time, we wanted to do something different and wondered how we could revitalize an existing suburb through the introduction of more urban ideas. Our goal was to prove that a more urban approach could positively impact the neighbourhood, so we put a lot of time into defining the elements that would make the two new buildings a good addition to the local community.

LEED certification provided the answer and set the direction for Citypoint. Ten years ago, there were not many LEED-certified buildings: our 2007 Oliva project was the first LEED-certified building in Delta. Citypoint was awarded LEED Canada Silver for New Construction Certification in January 2011. Based on measuring the built-in energy-efficient technologies, LEED reporting indicates that Citypoint delivers 37% energy savings each year. Citypoint remains BC’s largest LEED-certified residential building. Our work on these first two LEED-certified projects moved Century Group on to the next phase of our urbanism practice.

We realized that we could do more with energy systems and went beyond LEED and proceeded to build more energy-efficient projects. We looked at geothermal systems, in-building utilities, and other ways to optimize energy. In fact, our Sunridge Gardens project in the Township of Langley produced so much heat-energy that we had to install coolers to regulate the temperature.

Along the way, we learned how to build energy systems, which has translated into innovative solutions like the geothermal system that supplies constant, comfortable heat for the Northgate seniors community and the new energy system for 3 Civic Plaza, the high-rise residential tower, boutique hotel and university campus in the new Surrey City Centre. At 3 Civic Plaza, an in-building utility exchanges heat between the different components of the building, and the system also connects with the City of Surrey's energy system deep underneath the parking garage.

Infrastructure is an essential component of urban revitalization: our experience in constructing LEED-certified energy efficient homes at Citypoint was an important step in our practice of urbanism towards developing more liveable, sustainable neighbourhoods.

LEED certification provided that initial guidance for us in developing more livable, energy efficient buildings.