Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s (TRCA) Net Zero Carbon design for the new head office is made almost entirely out of wood. Its architecture focuses on integration with the surrounding natural environment and TRCA’s desire to create an energy efficient building with comfortable and inspiring work spaces for employees and visitors.
Inspired by TRCA’s role in managing and protecting the city’s natural water and ravine systems, ZAS Architects in a joint venture with Bucholz McEvoy Architects designed the organisation’s new headquarters into one of the most energy efficient mid rise commercial buildings in North America.
In addition to providing TRCA with a new light filled, welcoming, and flexible workplace, unique to the organisation’s vision was the holistic and “wood first” approach. From the elevator core to the exterior cladding, the building uses a mass timber structure and will be built almost entirely out of wood, a significant change from the typical steel and concrete used in most commercial builds.
Amplifying the importance of conservation work at multiple touch points, the exposed mass timber structure, wood staircase and elevator core, all provide a strong biophilic work environment and acts as a repeated visual reminder of the building’s connection to the natural environment. Sitting adjacent to the Black Creek ravine system, the building’s geometry follows the natural topography creating terraces that move with the ravine edge. At each level, views from the south-facing façade pull the ravine edge visually into the core of the project, providing opportunities for employees and visitors to engage with the natural landscape.
Cedar wood cladding on the exterior is sourced from Ontario and references the heritage buildings in the adjacent Black Creek Pioneer Village, some that date back 150 years.
In addition to the use of wood and an energy efficient building envelope, other sustainable design features include a green roof, rainwater harvesting, low impact landscape development, and solar chimneys which will generate five per cent of the building’s electricity. Using a combination of low carbon electrical power from Ontario’s grid, geothermal energy and roof mounted solar panels, the project is targeting Net Carbon Zero, LEED Platinum V4, Toronto Green Standard level two, and WELL Silver certifications. When compared to traditional office buildings of this size, carbon emissions along with operating costs are projected to be reduced by up to 50%.
The architecture of the new office responds sensitively to the ravine context while expressing the mission of the organisation. An Urban Woodland will be included as a new public space adjacent to the main entrance of the building where visitors and employees can gather to enjoy the landscape.
The new predominantly plant based workplace will become a living model to show visitors how projects can be built sensitively and responsibly next to ravine landscapes. In addition to providing visitors with enhanced views of the Black Creek ravine from public meeting rooms, a major focal point for the employee and visitor experience are four water walls in the main atrium. Encased in glass and extending to the height of the building, the water walls serve a dual function, symbolising TRCA’s role of safeguarding the Greater Toronto Area’s (GTA) watersheds while also being an integral part of the building’s HVAC system. Making a part of the building’s mechanical system visible was an unusual but very intentional choice.
Through the water wall feature, we’re making the building’s life support systems that are usually hidden infrastructure visible and tangible. Making the invisible, visible when it comes to energy use, serves as a very real reminder of the impact our daily lives and decisions have on the planet every day.
Duckworth Pilkington, Principal, ZAS ArchitectsThe atria on the ground floor with large skylights allow daylight to penetrate deeply into the building, highlighting the project’s biophilic design.
Building on this theme, the design combines cutting edge sustainability technologies with traditional techniques. While a high tech HVAC system and an automated external blind system manages the building’s heating and cooling, occupants will be engaged to become active participants, much like they are active stewards of resource management for the community. Under the correct exterior conditions staff will be alerted by the building’s automation system through their personal devices, to either open or close windows to ensure the building is using energy most efficiently.
The new office design was an organisational priority in upgrading the efficiency and environmental impact of the workspace, while also improving employee wellness and their connection to the organisation’s mandate.
The ravine edge of the site is integrated into the project landscape design and thereby brings the ravine ecology “into” the building. The landscape integrates active transportation entry points, including connections to bike trails in the ravine.
TRCA broke ground on their new administrative office in January of 2020. The mass timber structure will be in place by the end of September 2021, with occupancies expected in September 2022.