Work is continuing apace on repurposing for social housing the athletes’ village used during the 2017 Taipei Universiade, with the project expected to be finished by July.
“The complex is to provide 3,408 high-quality household units in 34 buildings,” the New Construction Office under Taipei City Government’s Public Works Department said March 21. “It will be transferred to the Ministry of the Interior’s Construction and Planning Agency over two stages in September and November.”
According to NCO, conversion of the village is in keeping with TCG's policy of ensuring public assets built for major international events deliver maximum returns for the taxpayer.
Situated in Linkou District of neighboring New Taipei City, northern Taiwan, the complex is separated into two compounds linked by a skybridge. The design and planning of the facility, which was intended for social housing at inception, won accolades from International University Sports Federation, the Switzerland-based organization responsible for overseeing the Universiade.
All of the village’s structures hold Green Building Candidate Certificates in accordance with standards set down under the Ecology, Energy Saving, Waste Reduction and Health building evaluation system. In addition, they are classified as eco-friendly and intelligent per requirements for EEWH bronze accreditation.
Some of the standout smart features of the complex are disaster and security systems, integrated wiring and a card-operated facility management platform controlling resident access, mail and package deliveries, and common facility bookings.
EEWH certification assesses how environmentally friendly a building is using the indicators of biodiversity, carbon emissions and construction waste reduction, daily energy conservation, greenery, indoor environment, water conservation and content, as well as sewage and waste disposal. It is issued at the levels of certified, bronze, silver, gold and diamond.
Initiated in 1999 by the MOI’s Architecture and Building Research Institute, EEWH is the fourth evaluation system of its kind in the world and one of the few focusing primarily on buildings in tropical and subtropical regions.
The Universiade is an international sporting and cultural festival held biennially in a different city worldwide. The 29th edition, running Aug. 19-30, 2017, in Taipei involved 7,746 student athletes from 141 countries and territories contesting 21 sports at 38 competition venues across northern Taiwan. (JSM)
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