Built environment
With 14 campuses totaling over 3 million square feet of indoor space located in communities across our province, thousands of people interact with our buildings every day.
Sustainability in NSCC's built environment
NSCC’s campuses and facilities are more than places of learning—they are designed to reflect the College’s commitment to sustainability, accessibility, and community well-being. From state-of-the-art student housing and industry-leading certifications to regular assessments of air quality and occupant comfort, NSCC continues to prioritize the health, safety, and inclusivity of its built environment. These efforts ensure that students, staff, and visitors experience campuses that are innovative, welcoming, and resilient.
Air quality in our trades shops
Sustainability at NSCC encompasses more than just environmental issues; it also prioritizes the health and well-being of our staff and students. We conduct regular air quality assessments in our trades shops, concentrating on airborne contaminants like heavy metals and wood dust. This proactive approach helps ensure that the air remains safe during various activities, significantly reducing health risks for everyone involved. Over the past academic year, we tested 14 different welding and carpentry shops across 9 campuses.
Ivany Campus student housing
In July, NSCC officially opened a new student housing building at Ivany Campus, now the largest in the College’s portfolio. This 96,000-square-foot facility offers 200 beds and was designed with sustainability and accessibility at its core. The building features a state-of-the-art waste management system, secure bicycle storage, and energy- and water-efficient fixtures and appliances, and is targeting LEED Gold certification.
Beyond Ivany Campus, design and site preparation are underway for four additional student housing projects announced by the Province in 2023. Located at the Institute of Technology, Kingstec, Cumberland, and Lunenburg campuses, these facilities will add a combined total of 270 beds. Once completed, NSCC will have more than 800 housing spaces across 10 campuses, expanding access to safe, affordable, and inclusive accommodations for students.
Goals for 2025/26
- Explore opportunities to expand the NSCC electric vehicle charging network across campuses to support sustainable transportation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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- Pursue LEED certification for recently constructed buildings, including Ivany Campus housing and Sydney Waterfront Campus, ensuring environmental performance, resource efficiency, and sustainable operations are prioritized.
Recap of 2024/25
- Achieved LEED Silver certification for Pictou Campus housing, demonstrating the College’s commitment to sustainable construction and energy-efficient design.
- Completed BOMA recertification for all eligible NSCC campuses, ensuring continued alignment with best practices in sustainable building management.
- Installed new electric vehicle chargers at Sydney Waterfront Campus to support low-carbon transportation options for students and staff.
- Conducted indoor air quality testing in all carpentry and welding trade shops to ensure healthy and safe learning environments for occupants.
Sydney Waterfront Campus
NSCC’s Sydney Waterfront Campus marked its first full year of operation this fall, following its long-awaited opening in September 2024. Located in downtown Sydney, the 305,000-square-foot facility has quickly become a vibrant hub for students and the community, offering advanced technologies, enhanced learning spaces, and a welcoming environment.
Designed with sustainability at its core, the campus features a significantly lower carbon footprint than conventional buildings and integrates a range of innovative green features. Over the past year, the campus has provided valuable insights into sustainable building performance and operations highlighting both successes and opportunities for continued learning and improvement.
Highlights from the Sydney Waterfront Campus include:
- Remediation of the site, which consisted of seven formerly contaminated industrial parcels, brought the land up to current environmental standards.
- Climate change resilience planning led to raising the shoreline 1.25 metres to address sea level rise and storm surge projections for 2100.
- During construction opportunities were created for individuals often underrepresented in skilled trades; a minimum of 10% of the workforce on site was designated to women and equity-deserving groups.
- The buildings will be Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certified upon completion and is aiming for LEED Gold certification.
- Buildings will be heated and cooled entirely by geothermal technology.
Accessibility at NSCC
The Sydney Waterfront Campus was designed and built to the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification standards (Gold Level).
As a leader in post-secondary education, NSCC remains deeply committed to dismantling systems of oppression, eliminating barriers, and reimagining structures to foster true inclusion and accessibility. The College’s renewed Accessibility Plan, Act 1: Accessibility in Action – Advancing the Vision, builds on the foundation of Setting the Stage – A Social Justice Approach to Disability. This Plan reflects our continued collaboration with the Province and other post-secondary institutions to achieve an accessible Nova Scotia by 2030.
Part of the Plan centres on the built environment, with the goal of ensuring that our buildings and outdoor spaces provide meaningful access for intended users. Led by our Facilities Team, the College continues to prioritize access-based retrofits and upgrades across campuses as funding permits. New construction projects, including student housing buildings, are designed to meet accessibility standards and guidelines, such as those outlined by the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification program. These upgrades, often integrated into deferred maintenance projects, remain a top priority, ensuring our spaces are inclusive and welcoming.
Our Facilities & Engineering team is actively working to:
· Implement Built Environment Standard
· Enhance Campus Wayfinding
· Increase Number of RHF Certified Employees
· Collaborate with other Provincial PSEs on Accessibility
· Support Student Accessibility in Physical Spaces
The College remains committed to cultivating an environment where everyone can thrive, participate fully, and reach their full potential. Everyone belongs at NSCC.
Everyone Belongs At NSCC
BOMA BEST certifications
BOMA BEST is an internationally recognized program that provides tools for building management focused on sustainability and operational excellence. NSCC has participated in the BOMA BEST program since 2008, reflecting a long-standing commitment to best practices in building operations and maintenance.
This year, the College successfully completed recertification of its buildings. Evaluations covered criteria such as cleaning practices, energy use, air quality management, hazardous materials handling, occupant comfort, and communication practices.
NSCC concluded this cycle with three Platinum-certified buildings—Institute of Technology Campus, Ivany Campus, and Pictou Campus—and ten Gold-certified buildings. Congratulations to the Facilities teams across the province for their dedication to delivering excellent building conditions and advancing NSCC’s sustainability leadership.
Celebrating Leadership in Sustainability Two NSCC staff were recognized for their contributions to sustainability in the built environment:
Anna Jessop – BOMA Nova Scotia Emerging Leader of the Year
Martha MacGowan – Nominee, Elaina Tattersdale Sustainability Champion Award
These accolades highlight the College’s commitment to leadership, innovation, and sustainability excellence at both the institutional and individual level.