24-storey TELUS Garden office tower first in Canada built to new LEED Platinum standards

TELUS Garden’s office tower in the heart of Downtown Vancouver is now officially open. Rich with innovative architectural, technological and environmental features, it is the first substantial office tower in Canada built to new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum standards.

“Our new home that embellishes the heart of Vancouver’s skyline, TELUS Garden is an architectural icon that exemplifies our brand, reflects our values and symbolizes a deep appreciation of our team for their dedication to connecting people and communities across Canada,” said Darren Entwistle, TELUS President and CEO. “It is our sincere hope that this exceptional space provides inspiration for all who live, work and visit here. Indeed, TELUS Garden is Canada’s most beautiful and ambitious LEED Platinum building, and one of the most environmentally-friendly developments in North America.”

The unique development’s features include:

• A district energy system that will reduce demand from conventional energy sources by 80 per cent and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than one million kilograms a year. The system recovers energy from the neighbouring telecommunications building that would normally be lost and uses it to heat and cool air and water throughout the development;
• Vancouver’s largest solar panel array on the office tower’s rooftop, reducing reliance on conventional commercial electricity;
• Rainwater capture systems to irrigate gardens throughout the development;
• 10,000 square feet of outdoor meeting space and garden terraces on six levels planted with a community food garden that will be tended by TELUS team members, indigenous trees and thousands of plants species;
• An iconic architectural canopy along Georgia Street that will provide coverage to the new public plaza that also features seating, music and a free Wi-Fi zone
• Vancouver’s first cantilevered office spaces above city sidewalks, which enhance the office building’s design while maximizing the use of vertical space;
• A media façade that will display community programing including visual arts created by local students and arts organizations;
• A custom made Fazioli piano in the office building lobby for local musicians, beside an indoor koi fish pond;
• Advanced building systems, which include a ventilation system providing fresh air to residents and workers, rather than the recycled air typical of towers;
• High-efficiency motion sensor lighting to significantly reduce energy consumption;
• Charging stations for electric vehicles and bike storage, with showers for team members;
• 450,000 square feet of new office space and 65,000 square feet of new retail space, including TELUS’ flagship 2,300 square foot retail store.

“When we first imagined this project five years ago, our vision was to create a new headquarters for our team that would dramatically reduce TELUS’ environmental footprint,” said Andrea Goertz, TELUS Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice-President. “It was also important to us that the development contribute to Vancouver’s social fabric by recreating this central block as a vibrant, fun place full of culture and energy. TELUS Garden has achieved all of that and more.”

TELUS Garden’s office tower was designed to support TELUS’ Work Styles program, which encourages team members to work when and where they are most effective. Fully 70 per cent of TELUS team members work at home full or part-time, coming into the office when it meets their requirements. Work Styles saves real estate costs while simultaneously reducing employee commuting expenses, environmental impact, and traffic. To support the program, the office design combines private meeting rooms, mobile work stations, open seating areas, shared work stations, kitchens, large outdoor terraces and green spaces to encourage collaboration, teamwork and innovation.

“As a leading technology company here in B.C., it’s fitting that the new TELUS Garden showcases new building and environmental techniques,” said Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services Amrik Virk. “This new building is a symbol of technology and ecology working together to create sustainable development.”

TELUS has long called British Columbia home. The development of the company’s new LEED Platinum TELUS Garden reinforces TELUS’ commitment to the City of Vancouver and supports the city’s goal of becoming the greenest city in the world.

For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.

Switching from a costly traditional trade show to a more affordable cyberspace model

It’s a Catch-22 situation for every business owner – to shell out the expensive investment needed for participation in traditional trade shows … or not.

Until recently, physically setting up a booth, and all the inherent rental and promotion costs, could easily reach $100,000. For the largest firms, perhaps that was manageable, but for small and medium businesses those expenditures were becoming unmanageable.

Now, however, with the advent of virtual trade shows, business owners can instantly get much more bang for their buck – and all from the comfort of their offices, without the financial burden and logistical inconvenience of the traditional option.

In many ways, this shift is an industry game-changer, with more budget-friendly costs, and a green stamp of approval to boot. The virtual alternative eliminates the need for transportation of people and materials; that alone reduces a company’s carbon footprint.

For the uninitiated, virtual trade shows are designed for online use, designed to resemble a convention centre, with lobbies, networking lounges, conference and exhibit halls. There are booths for showcasing products and services. An online attendee can view demos, peruse literature, or chat with sales reps in real time. Often, there are keynote speeches or webinars, videocasts and podcasts, as well.

With companies these days adhering to green, sustainable policies, the virtual trade show concept is catching on in a big way. This year, in fact, Green Building & Sustainable Strategies magazine is presenting the first Canadian virtual trade show for green and sustainable building. Called Green Building Expo, it is utilizing cutting-edge technology. It’s definitely budget-friendly for exhibitors and free for attendees.

Companies, traditionally, participated in trade shows to generate new sales leads. People attended conferences for content and networking. The same results, as it turns out, can be attained by becoming involved in virtual alternatives such as the Green Building Expo.

And in many ways, beyond the financial implications, a virtual show has much more going for it. A physical trade show, to recap, can be a hassle for a large corporation and a major logistical nightmare for small and medium players. At a physical convention, hundreds of vendors and thousands of attendees are jammed into a cramped, noisy space. Often, the “little guy” gets dwarfed by the “big boys,” armed with substantial war chests, premium advertising and booth space, as well as high-profile keynote presentation exposure.

Now, thanks to computer technology, the playing field is level.  There’s no doubt we’ll see explosive growth. It’s not a stretch to suggest that the virtual event market could replace the traditional conference and trade show concept.

Some of the more obvious advantages to virtual trade shows include:

• The green effect:  Not only does the virtual model reduce a company’s carbon footprint on the front end, but it also eliminates the production of materials that will go to waste after an event.

• Making perfect sense: It’s logical to utilize new technologies and trends — after all, that’s what you’re encouraging your buyer to do. So it goes hand in hand with sustainability.

• Tracking lead generation: Virtual trade show platforms make it easy to provide prospects with downloadable materials, and many offer built-in tracking, lead management, and attendee profiles so you know exactly who is downloading what.

• Saving money:  For those who’ve been to trade shows, you know it costs a lot, both to sponsor booths and to attend. Among the expenditures are paying for employee time, travel, lodging, and meals, not to mention the various outlays needed for booths. Then there’s internet, printing, electricity and shipping. There is absolutely no question that exhibiting at a virtual trade show costs significantly less.

• Better time management: Virtual trade shows not only allow you to save time on travel, but they often house your virtual booth for up to a year after the actual event. That means that the money you pay for your space isn’t buying you a few days, it’s buying a more long-term marketing platform.

• The cool factor: Booths can link directly to an exhibitor’s Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook or YouTube social media accounts. Impossible to dispute the value of that.

• Extended reach: Companies can reach out to a global audience to generate a high volume of leads and prospects.

Moreover, virtual events are quickly evolving, becoming much more user-friendly. No longer do you have to understand complex computer functions to take part. While the basic computer skills of sponsors and attendees have likely progressed over the years, the virtual trade show developers have made the experience much more accessible, as well.

For additional information about the first Canadian virtual trade show for green and sustainable building, contact Executive Managing Director – Giulio Marinescu at 416.250.0664.

Web /  www.green-building-expo.com / giulio@green-building–expo.com

Yes, there are substantial savings when switching from traditional physical trade shows to virtual online alternatives – thousands of dollars to be exact.

But that doesn’t mean opting for a virtual event is a walk in the park. Planning and executing a virtual trade show, or online event, is not easy. In fact, it pays to do your homework and well worth the effort to give any virtual show the same level of attention as conventional fairs.

Although there is no physical contact, the virtual shows certainly offer participants the opportunity to connect with clients and business partners without having to meet them in person. As such, while saving time and money, they are able to promote their products or services, exchanging valuable information digitally.

But there still needs to be attention to detail. Successful online trade shows should offer the content, networking and product specifications associated with a traditional fair, with the added convenience, however, of access from any device, anywhere in the world.

If your company intends to set up a booth at a virtual fair, there is a checklist to follow. Sure, there aren’t any of the headaches inherent in traditional options – like booking airline flights, hotel stays, printing, and a myriad of other related expenses – but hosting a virtual booth still requires a marketing strategy.

Here are a few considerations for those contemplating setting up a booth at a virtual show:

1) Establish goals: Before any plans are put in place, coordinate as a team exactly what you are trying to achieve. It’s the same principle as for a physical event. Next, flesh out the details.

2) Aesthetics: Take the time to create a visually appealing booth. It may not be a skillset your team has traditionally called upon, but good procedures are worth getting in place. Think colorful, high contrast, and high impact – work with the show’s managing director to determine the best way to grab browsers’ attention. Don’t forget to ask about the ‘add-ons’: additional promotional opportunities both inside and outside your booth. This can be anything from banners elsewhere within the virtual show to pre-event e-mail blasts, intended to make your participation even more personal and memorable. And make sure your logo is in a prominent place.

3) Prepare content: With a virtual event, there are fewer limitations to the quantity and quality of the content you can provide. Extended videos are just a click away for any virtual visitor. That said, you’re not just competing with other booths, but with an attendee’s day-to-day workload as well, and if you lose their attention for a moment, attendees can slip away. As such, a virtual booth does not mean you can scale back on the value proposition, but quite the opposite: content needs to be clearer and stronger than anywhere else.

4) Host a social booth: People will stay longer and engage more if attendees communicate with each other at your booth. Rally potential attendees on social media, encouraging them to explore your Facebook or LinkedIn presences. Offer anything from random prizes to advanced games. Provide your audience with a running start and they’ll be much more engaged with your conversations throughout your campaign. Attendees who have engaged will likely return to check buzz around your booth.

5) Give yourself enough time: Things don’t always progress at the pace you’d like. Whether it’s deliverables from an exhibitor, graphics from the creative agency or an e-mail list from your marketing department, insert sufficient wiggle room into the timeline. One of the biggest dangers of virtual event execution is the rush job to get to the finish line.

Before committing to a virtual trade show, however, you can get a feel for the experience by contacting the show’s managing director for more details or a demo walk-through. Once on board, all you’ll have to do is make a quick phone call to lay out the general design of the booth, and then you’ll be able to log in to the show, and upload information, including logos and company materials. 

For additional information about the first Canadian virtual trade show for green and sustainable building, contact Executive Managing Director Giulio Marinescu at 416.250.0664.