Green Building Technology Access Centre (GBTAC)

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Calgary, Alberta
What the facility does

Works with industry to identify and develop environmentally friendly technologies, processes, programs, systems and services that fundamentally change the way we build, educate and develop skilled labour.

Areas of expertise

Green Building Technology Access Centre (GBTAC)’s researchers work with a broad range of industry partners and organizations, municipalities, governments, academic institutions, and community groups through SAIT’s Applied Research and Innovation Services Hub. The mission is to prove, implement, and commercialize new building materials, systems, and methods that lead to the construction or retrofit  of buildings to be higher-efficiency, lower-emission, healthier, and more environmentally friendly. GBTAC collaborates to de-risk  and deliver holistic high-performance building solutions that address environmental, social, and economic realities, while also developing training and support systems to upskill both the residential and commercial construction industries.

GBTAC focuses on:
•    Advanced building and material science 
•    Energy management information systems
•    Environmental and architectural ecology
•    Affordability and carbon impacts

Research services
  • Assistance with building products approvals and commercialization
  • Concept ideation and design review
  • Design services
  • Early-stage business development
  • Fabrication, prototyping and installation services
  • Field trials/simulation
  • IP protection facilitation
  • Performance monitoring and management
  • Project management
  • Proof of concept
  • Rapid prototyping/3D printing
  • Scientific and technological monitoring
  • Scientific report writing
  • Technology and workflow consultation
  • Technology development
  • Business development and market research services
  • Competitive assessments
  • Competitive market analysis
Sectors of application
  • Clean technology
  • Construction (including building, civil engineering, specialty trades)
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Environmental technologies and related services
  • Information and communication technologies and media
  • Management and business related services
  • Manufacturing and processing
  • Policy and governance
  • Professional and technical services (including legal services, architecture, engineering)
  • Utilities
Equipment
ASTM structural compression and racking apparatus
Cold climate mechanical system test stations
Climate and weathering simulation chamber
Flat roof testing plots
Electric vehicle charging station
Energy management, monitoring and building information management controls
High performance commercial building and living lab
Water conservation treatment lab
Rainwater harvesting infrastructure
10-ton overhead crane