Fanshawe College
IN-24: Innovation A

Kestrel Court, one of Fanshawe’s four student residences, is comprised of 68 townhomes in 12 detached buildings. Designed in the late 1970s to early 1980s, Kestrel Court is one of Fanshawe’s most energy-intensive building units. The objective of this project is to retrofit the existing property and units, to create a modern, performance-driven net zero community, providing experiential learning opportunities for Fanshawe students. These upgrades would not only save the planet many tonnes of waste and carbon dioxide annually, but will also provide modern, healthy, living conditions that will inspire those that live and visit there. Architectural technology students, along with Professor Tom Davis, originally conceptualized the project, over many semesters. Each year, a new set of students is tasked with further research and refining the project scope This project will help create a new standard for renovations at the College, and the final product will serve as a shining example of net zero technologies and capability to the London community. The Kestrel Court Net Zero project is a scalable and replicable approach to upgrading existing buildings, applicable across the residential sector. Building envelope and lighting improvements, solar PV, geothermal, and storm water management are included within the project scope, as well as upgrades to interiors to improve tenant satisfaction and liveability. There are three main objectives to be achieved through our project: • Significant reduction of GHG emissions • Faculty and student involvement in all project stages • Research opportunities with respect to product selection in the areas of solar thermal ventilation, building materials, sustainable landscaping, and tenant satisfaction