Le Vistal should obtain LEED Certification

The LEED certification is given by the CANADIAN GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL The buildings in question have an impact on the environment but those who live in these buildings will be the first beneficiaries of this initiative. For example, occupants of Le Vistal will enjoy a 35% reduction in their energy consumption which translates into a $125,000 annual savings for the whole building compared to a similarly-constructed building that is available in the market. In all of Canada, 61 high-rise buildings are registered to receive LEED certification, but only three of them (two in Toronto and one in Vancouver) have been certified to-date. Le Vistal will be the first in Quebec to satisfy the criteria before becoming a part of this exclusive group.

The building’s construction was subject to strict rules and controls. Five criteria must be fulfilled: sustainable site, water protection and efficiency, energy efficiency and renewable energy, preservation of materials and resources as well as the quality of the indoor environment. Le Vistal has already completed all the required steps for accreditation, but it won’t be before a year that observers will learn if it has achieved the gold level. For this goal to be reached, the Canada Green Building Council must validate each criteria, and then assign the building one of the four certification levels (certified, silver, gold or platinum).

Thanks to buyer demand, this building was constructed six months before the planned date. When the initial phase of the building was launched, the condominiums of Le Vistal sold like hotcakes. Almost half of the 160 units of the first tower were already sold in the first few weeks.

Several owners joined the partners and construction team members to celebrate the building’s inauguration. Present were several occupants of other buildings built by Proment in the last few years. Speaking to invited guests, Proment President Samuel Gewurz said that he was truly proud of Le Vistal. He explained that despite its aesthetic qualities and its enviable location – along the river – it is what people don’t see that makes this a remarkable building. He is proud that this construction is a precedent in Quebec; according to him, the “green” criteria will become a requirement that homebuyers will demand more and more.

Proment Vice President Louis-Joseph Papineau said that since the project was launched in September 2006, he has noticed a dynamic evolution in the construction industry. “More and more green materials are available to us especially for the finishing”, he pointed out.

The neighbouring tower (Le Vistal II) is already in construction and 25% of the units have been reserved by buyers. It will be built based on the same standards and will offer the same advantages.

The bet is that Samuel Gewurz’s vision will ALSO stimulate the residential development plan for the northern tip of L'Île-des-Soeurs to which he will put the finishing touch.