During the tour, Manitoba Hydro was introduced to a European climate engineer who would later be selected as the energy/climate consultant for the project. The principal of this engineering firm continues to be amazed at how “unusual it was to have a client who educated himself on such a high level before looking for architects and engineers.”

The most notable aspect of the design and build process is that it was conducted within the framework of a formal integrated design process (IDP) that was mandated by Manitoba Hydro and modeled on the successful C-2000 program developed by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), a department of the Canadian federal government. A representative from NRCan monitored the IDP and assessed the application under the Commercial Building Incentive Programme (CBIP). Manitoba Hydro hired an advocate architect responsible for urban design integration as well as the documentation and submission for LEED program, in which the project achieved a Gold rating.

In contrast to the conventional RFP process, in which the architects propose the consultant team, Manitoba Hydro limited the selection to the design architect first, conducting an intensive international search. The design architect was selected from a 3-stage process and was then required to assist the client in forming the integrated design team, including executive architects, energy engineers, the mechanical and electrical engineers, construction manager, and costing/quantity surveyors.