Green Campus Tour

Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine

LEED® Silver, 2015

The Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine includes low-flow fixtures in the washrooms as well as lighting controls, LED lights, and window design reduce energy consumption. Additional insulation was also installed to further improve energy consumption efforts.

Western Interdisciplinary Research Building (WIRB)

LEED® Gold, 2018

WIRB features low-flow fixtures in the washrooms as well as lighting controls and LED lights. An extensive  green roof  is also featured, helping to lower the urban heat island effect and promotes biodiversity. Sound attenuation and vibration control on equipment within the building works to reduce noise pollution. Some other energy-saving features in WIRB include: - Energy recovery wheels are on central air handling units - Variable speed and flow equipment that allows for demand control ventilation

Jancey Garden

A hidden gem on campus, Jancey Garden features perennials, grasses, herbs, and flora. The garden is located on the Southside of the Biotron Building. With lots of seating, enjoy a break in this space on a warm summer day.

FOGs Pollinator Garden

The FOGs Pollinator Garden was installed in May 2022, featuring two 80 foot long garden beds. You can visit the garden that is located in the Middlesex parking lot. Volunteers helped plant approximately 40 different native species in the pollinator garden. An additional 1,250 square feet was added to the garden in summer 2023.

FOGs volunteers grew the majority of the plants from seed in the Western greenhouses, and sourced others from local native plant nurseries. Most plants in the pollinator garden are native species to the  Carolinian Life Zone , the ecological region we are situated within at Western.

Visit the  FOGs website  to learn more about the ways you can get involved!

The Tropical House

The Biology Department greenhouses are comprised of teaching and research complexes. The Tropical House is the largest greenhouse in the teaching complex. As visitors walk around the circular path, plant species are labelled for helpful identification.

When visiting the Tropical House, enter via the Biological & Geological Sciences Building at loading dock #7. For more information visit the  Greenhouses webpage .

Western Community Garden

The  Western Community Garden  has been a collaborative initiative amongst students, staff, and faculty since 2021. The key groups who brought the garden to life include the Society of Graduate Students (SOGS), EnviroUSC, and within Facilities Management, Western Sustainability and Landscape Services.

Repurposed annual flower planters now exist as raised beds for gardeners to use. Landscape Services provides the wood chips that are sourced from trees around campus.

The Community Garden is located beside the Greenhouses and near Middlesex College.

St. Mary's Cement and Rock Garden

This garden is tucked between the Collip Building and the Department of Earth Sciences, near the Western Greenhouses. From the Department of Geology, the assortment of rocks at St. Mary's Cement rock garden is inspired by the Geology of Southern Ontario. The sedimentary rocks are laid out in a temporal sequence, becoming younger with increasing height on the garden slope. The oldest rock in the garden is between 2.2 and 2.4 billion years old, while the youngest is about 370 million years old. 

Jane's Courtyard

This memorial garden for Dr. Jane Bowles, Western professor and late Director of the Sherwood Fox Arboretum. Jane's Courtyard showcases a lovely complement of native and non-native plants. Work in the courtyard (prior to the dedication to Dr. Bowles) was completed by Friends of the Garden (FOGs); the Biology Department took the lead on converting the courtyard into the memorial.

The Courtyard is located inside the Biological & Geological Sciences Building on the Ground floor. Follow signage within the building to find the courtyard.

Physics & Astronomy, Rain Infiltration Garden

Located in front of the Physics & Astronomy building, this is Western's first naturalized rain garden. It features low-maintenance native, drought-resistant, and salt-tolerant plants that help naturally absorb rainwater into the ground instead of having excess storm water and snow melts flowing as runoff into the storm sewers. Landscape Services at Western uses a variety of practices to support ecologically-beneficial plantings. Native plants are considered first in planting plans, and the right plant is selected for the right location. Non-native plants are selected to complement native species, where conditions are not suitable to native plants, and to contribute to our role as an Arboretum.

Did you know Western is a designated  Bee Campus ? We became the first university in Canada to receive this designation in 2018. Some ways we support pollinators on campus include: - Planting native species (E.g. Joe-pye weed and echinacea/cone flower in this rain garden) - Reduced grass cutting in certain areas for wildflowers and grasses to grow

Physics and Astronomy Building

LEED® Certified, 2015

The Physics and Astronomy Building features low-flow fixtures in the washrooms. The renovation of the building incorporated natural and recycled materials throughout the building including linoleum flooring, drywall from recycled drywall, and concrete with fly ash content. 90% of the construction and renovation waste was diverted from landfill.

UC Hill, The Sherwood Fox Arboretum

The Sherwood Fox Arboretum encompasses all the planted trees and shrubs on campus. UC Hill is where the largest concentration of different tree and shrub species can be found on campus. Western's campus is located within the Carolinian Life Zone, the richest ecosystem in Canada. Many of the trees on campus have labels for easy identification, an important role in public education and scientific research.

For the last 3-4 years, Landscape Services has planted at least 200-300 new trees on campus, each year. Many of these new trees are planted in and around naturalized areas, which helps to grow the natural spaces and also further reduce mowing. Tree plantings focus on Carolinian species, which support native pollinators and wildlife, and also include some other interesting tree and shrub species which are not native, but hardy to our region and often not found in local parks or nurseries.

The Sherwood Fox Arboretum was established in 1981 by Dr. George Connell, then President of Western, who appointed Dr. J.B. Phipps as the Arboretum's first Director. The fundamental objective of the Arboretum is to have growing on campus as many as possible of the several thousand kinds of trees and shrubs that can survive in this climate. Learn more about the Sherwood Fox Arboretum  here !

Delaware Hall

LEED® Silver, 2018

Delaware Hall features low-flow fixtures in the washrooms as well as lighting controls and LED lights to reduce energy consumption. New windows were installed, improving the thermal performance of the building envelope, which saves energy and makes the space more comfortable.

Deshkan Ziibi / Thames River

The river flows through campus and is home to many species of plants and wildlife, including species at risk such as spiny softshell turtles. It’s essential to protect the river for the health of both people and the environment; as polluted river water damages ecosystems in and around the river, and pollution in the river has also contributed to boil water advisories in surrounding First Nations, whose traditional territory overlaps with the watershed.

Music Building & Rain Infiltration Garden

LEED® Gold, 2017

The Music Building underwent a  two-phase renovation between 2013 and 2018.  The renovations added sustainability features that include low-flow fixtures in the washrooms as well as lighting controls, LED lights, and additional insulation to reduce energy consumption.

The rain infiltration garden, between the Music Building and the International & Graduate Affairs Building, was installed in the summer of 2023. This space supports Western's  Open Space Strategy  through the connection of pedestrian pathways and seating for community gathering.

Old Growth Forest

Located between the International & Graduate Affairs Building and the Music Building, this is an important patch of forest as it has many features of old growth forests, including upper- and mid-canopy features, as well as forest floor cover, despite being small and surrounded by human influence. Across campus Landscape Services does not plant invasive species; and regularly removes invasive species from various areas, including around this forest patch where buckthorn and non-native honeysuckle have been targeted aggressively. Invasive species are also managed along the river bank, behind Ivey where Phragmites is growing, and other areas as needed.

Bike Shelter

This bike shelter is located in the Alumni-Thompson parking lot and features vertical racking that supports up to 60 bicycles.

This shelter is free for Western students, staff, and faculty to use. Please visit the  Parking Services  website for more information.

Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion (CMLP)

LEED® Gold, 2010

CMLP is the first LEED®-certified building on campus. Th building features low-flow fixtures in the washrooms as well as lighting controls, LED lights, and designed to used natural light to reduce energy consumption.

The TD Friends of the Environment BioDynamic Garden

The BioDynamic Garden demonstrates air, water, and soil benefits to the environment. It was collaboratively designed by Western Engineering Associate Director and a horticulturalist. The natural spaces features lots of native plants as well as a tranquil space on campus for people to visit.

Amit Chakma Engineering Building (ACEB)

LEED® Platinum, 2019

ACEB is Western's first LEED® Platinum building on campus. ACEB has many social and collaborative aspects in building design; such as having large spaces for circulation in areas like the corridor along the west façade which features work surfaces adjacent to glazing, introducing access to natural light and views. Large interior windows are in classrooms and labs along corridors and complemented by skylights to allow natural light to flow through much of the building.

The building envelope was designed to decrease energy usage and optimize passive heating and cooling. In place of blinds, special windows (Electrochromatic & external fritted glass fins) allow daylight into spaces while minimizing glare. The majority of the building's roof is covered in solar PV to help offset the building’s electrical demands. Radiant heating and cooling systems are used wherever practical. When water is moved through the building for cooling and heating, it uses much less energy (compared to air).

Low-flow faucets and urinals as well as lighting controls and LED lights are also sustainable features included in ACEB.

Ontario Hall

LEED® Silver, 2015

Energy efficient design elements include Variable Frequency Drives on pumps and fans throughout the building. Additionally, low-flow fixtures in the washrooms are featured. The roof is made of highly reflective materials to reduce Heat Island Effect. Landscaping uses native and drought-resistant plants.

During construction, 75% of construction waste was diverted from landfill.

Electric Vehicle Charging (EV), Elborn College Location

There are multiple EV charging stations located across campus. For more information on specific locations, visit the  Parking Services  website.

In the next two years, Western plans to  install 37 new stations across campus  (with the capacity to charge 74 vehicles) to support its commitment towards a net-zero future.

Ivey Business School

LEED® Gold, 2015

The Ivey Business School features low-flow fixtures in the washrooms, lighting controls, LED lights, and window design reduces energy consumption. Landscaping uses native and drought-resistant plants.

Stevenson & Lawson Hall

LEED® Silver, 2014

Stevenson and Lawson Hall both feature low-flow fixtures in the washrooms as well as lighting controls, LED lights, and additional insulation to reduce energy consumption.

Beryl Ivey Garden

The Beryl Ivey Garden honours the late alumna Beryl Ivey. The garden represents Ivey's love for gardening and interest in the Carolinian Life Zone, in which Western's campus is situated in. This serene space is located between University College and Lawson Hall.

McIntosh Gallery

LEED® Silver, 2012

McIntosh Gallery features lighting controls, LED lights, and window design reduces energy consumption. Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) were installed in the building to use the heat from exhaust to pre-heat outdoor air.

The area in front of McIntosh Gallery (Kent Walk North) is a great space for campus members to gather, including the  Western Farmer's Market .

Bike Lockers, UCC / Concrete Beach Location

There are 70 bike lockers across  seven different locations  at Western. Active transportation is a great way for individuals and communities to reduce emissions and to choose a healthy and sustainable mode of transportation.

Western's  Open Space Strategy  describes the university's goals for sustainable transportation on campus. The strategy references several "Big Moves" that serve to turn the Vision and Principles into physical reality on campus, including the move to complete the bicycle network and establish a comprehensive network of safe bike routes. 

The Collider Centre for Technology Commercialization

LEED® Silver, 2015

The Collider is a centre for commercialization of advanced manufacturing technology and provides manufacturers with industrial research space, business services, contract research services and access to research staff and expertise, as well as production and testing equipment. The Collider is located at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), as part of  the City of London’s Innovation Park Phase 4.