Applying the Passive House Standard to Community Centers

Our May Next Gen session will feature Sherman Wai. (RDH Certified Passive House Consultant at RDH Building Science M.Eng., P.Eng., CPHD). Sherman will spotlight an in-depth exploration of incorporating the Passive House approach into community centers, using the Marpole Community Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia as a case study. This two-story building, nearly double the size of its predecessor, boasts a range of amenities including a gym, fitness facilities, multipurpose rooms catering to seniors, youth, and childcare services. Thanks to extensive use of mass timber, the project reduces embodied carbon by an impressive 30%. With aspirations for Passive House Classic certification (PHI), LEED Gold, and compliance with CAGBC's Zero Carbon Building Design - V3 standard, this project sets a new standard for sustainable community infrastructure.
Sherman specializes in building energy modeling, thermal analysis, testing, and field review for Passive House design and certification. As part of the RDH energy team, Sherman supports projects by guiding design teams through schematic design, development, and certification phases. He utilizes PHPP for energy modeling, optimizes junction details, and prepares thermal bridging models to meet Passive House standards. In the field, Sherman conducts site reviews to ensure Passive House compliance, including thermal bypass inspections, airtightness testing, and ventilation system commissioning.
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