Ontario Construction News staff writer
George Brown College celebrated a major milestone on April 22, officially receiving the keys to Limberlost Place, its new 10-storey building made mostly from mass timber.
The building has reached what’s known as “substantial performance,” meaning itโs mostly finished and can be used for its intended purpose. Final work is still underway before it opens fully to students and staff in September.
Limberlost Place is one of the first buildings of its kind in Ontario. It’s made using Canadian-sourced wood and built with sustainability in mind. The project was led by Moriyama Teshima Architects and Acton Ostry Architects, with construction by PCL. The college says the building meets environmental standards Toronto doesnโt require until 2030.
โThis building is a big step forwardโnot just for the college, but for sustainable construction across Canada,โ said Michelle McCollum, the collegeโs vice-president of facilities and sustainability. โItโs designed to support both the planet and the people who use it.โ
Limberlost Place will become the new home for George Brownโs School of Architectural Studies this fall. It will also include a childcare centre, Indigenous student space, fitness centre, and a large shared workspace for students, staff and industry partners working on community and sustainability projects.
The college took an unusually open approach during construction, hosting more than 300 tours for other schools, companies and government officials to show how the building was being made. Nerys Rau, the project director, said the goal was to encourage more sustainable building practices across the country.
โThere were risks involvedโfinancial and otherwise,โ Rau said. โBut we wanted to show whatโs possible and be part of a bigger change in how we build in Canada.โ
Limberlost Place has already had a broader impact. The Ontario government updated building rules to allow taller wood buildings like it, and engineers on the project developed new construction techniques that are now shared freely with others.
The project was supported by major donors, including Jack Cockwell and the Brookfield Partners Foundation, and transformed a former parking lot on Torontoโs waterfront into a space for learning and innovation.
โThis is the kind of project architects dream of,โ said Phil Silverstein, one of the architects leading the work. โIt changed how we think about our workโand hopefully helps others do the same.โ
For more on Limberlost Placeโs sustainable features, visit georgebrown.ca/limberlost.