Natural Resources Canada Makes $2 Million Contribution For TRCA’s New Head Office Building

Today, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) announced $2 million in funding for Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s (TRCA) new administrative office building.

Contributed as part of NRCan’s Green Construction Through Wood (GCWood) program, which aims to encourage greater use of wood in construction projects, this funding will help TRCA to complete the new four-storey mass timber building.

At today’s announcement we welcomed remarks from The Honourable Judy Sgro, Member of Parliament for Humber River—Black Creek, Tom Rakocevic, MPP for Humber River—Black Creek, Marianne Berube, Executive Director, Wood WORKS! Ontario, Jennifer Innis, Peel Regional Councillor and Chair of TRCA’s Board of Directors, and John MacKenzie, Chief Executive Officer of TRCA.

The GCWood program supports Canada’s transition to a more wood-inclusive construction industry. Benefits of projects funded through the program include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, innovative energy-efficient building designs, and more.

The new TRCA administrative office building will be located at 5 Shoreham Drive in Toronto, near York University, at the approximate centre of TRCA’s area of jurisdiction.

The new building is intended to be one of the most energy-efficient office buildings in North America. Sustainable design features will include:

The landscape design will follow low impact design (LID) guidelines and feature native species. READ MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT.

From the Government of Canada News Release:

Living in environmentally sustainable communities is important to Canadians. That is why Canada is investing in advanced wood building design and construction that will help create a greener future while growing markets for Canada’s forest sector.

The Honourable Judy Sgro, Member of Parliament for Humber River—Black Creek, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, today announced an investment of $2 million over three years to Toronto and Region Conservation Authority for the construction of a four-storey mass timber office building in Toronto.

This project will position Canada as a global leader in advanced wood building design and construction while expanding the Canadian wood market into non-traditional, low-rise office buildings.

Once completed, the office will be a net-zero energy-efficient building, meaning that it will produce at least as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis. The structure will be built with glue-laminated timber, an engineered wood product that is bonded together with durable, moisture-resistant structural adhesive. This material will give the building environmental benefits that matter to Canadians. Its production is renewable and sustainable, while combating climate change through carbon sequestration.

…

“On behalf of TRCA, I would like to thank Natural Resources Canada for encouraging greater use of wood in construction projects and contributing funding to our new mass timber office building through their GCWood Program. By helping TRCA build with wood, the Government of Canada is investing in sustainability, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping TRCA set a high benchmark for the construction of new commercial buildings.” — Jennifer Innis, Chair, TRCA

“TRCA is committed to applying the best practices in green building and sustainable design. Thanks to Natural Resources Canada’s generous contribution, along with contributions from the Province of Ontario and TRCA’s participating municipalities, our new administrative office building will be one of the most energy-efficient office buildings in North America.” — John MacKenzie, Chief Executive Officer, TRCA

READ THE FULL RELEASE.

Construction of New TRCA
Administrative Office Building:
FACT SHEET

Timeline:

• Groundbreaking: June 7, 2019
• Construction: June 2019 – 2021
• Occupancy: 2021

Location:

• 5 Shoreham Drive, Toronto, Ontario (near York University, immediately west of Aviva Centre – Home of Tennis Canada)
• Site of TRCA’s previous permanent head office
• At the approximate centre of TRCA’s area of jurisdiction
• Backs onto Black Creek Ravine

Building Design and Layout:

• The building is sited to both embrace the Black Creek Ravine landscape and extend into the site and visually into the building. The building increases in height gradually with the lowest part adjacent to the ravine and the highest part facing Tennis Canada.
• The main floor area is a light filled space dominated by two atria and four solar chimneys. The main floor space allows for large public gatherings such as board meetings, transitional exhibition space, as well as an inviting cafeteria. The majority of TRCA’s staff will be accommodated on the second, third and fourth floors in an open plan that brings light to the workstations from the perimeter and the atria.

Building Certifications:

• Toronto Green Standard Tier II
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum
• WELL Silver

Green Building Features and Facts:

• The 8,100 square metre, four-storey, mass timber office building will accommodate over 400 TRCA staff members.
• The building will be part of the Canadian Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Program as a pilot study.
• Solar thermal panels on the roof will provide recharge energy to the geothermal field.
• Four solar chimneys will be combined with water-carrying transparent air ducts called waterwalls distributed visibly in two in atria on the inside of the building. The solar chimneys provide tempered air that is fed into a raised floor plenum. The waterwalls combined with operable windows within a double layer of glazing will greatly reduce the building’s energy use.
• The project will restore green infrastructure systems, managing stormwater runoff for, at minimum, the first 25 millimeters of rainfall. Rainwater harvesting gardens, bioswales and permeable pavement will also be used.
• The landscape design will follow low impact design guidelines and feature native species.
• Rainwater will be harvested to irrigate a green roof.
• Electric vehicle charging stations for TRCA staff and visitors will support and promote electric vehicle use.