Academic Tower - Current Project
Construction Type:
New Construction
Architect:
Patkau | MJMA Architects
Description
Render: Patkau|MJMA Architects
The proposed Academic Tower will be an iconic, precedent-setting building at a unique site on the University of Toronto’s St. George campus. Situated between the Munk School of Global Affairs at 315 Bloor Street, and the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport at 100 Devonshire Place, the tower will be the first tall wood structure in Ontario. It is intended that the tower become a prototype for the use of mass timber/tall wood both nationally and worldwide. Given the prominent sustainable effort driving the project, the design approach will both reveal this unique timber structure to the street, while also responsibly designing the building envelope to respond to its four unique solar conditions via a passive design strategy. The intent is one that responds specifically to its context, while also delivering the highest energy performance and thermal comfort solution.
The site offers a strong, highly visible location. A fully glazed façade to the north will showcase a timber structure to great effect along the Bloor St corridor. The ability to expose underside of timber decks will provide an attractive finished ceiling, with a resulting interior character evocative of Toronto loft buildings.
The Academic Tower will primarily accommodate the academic and research requirements of four groups: Rotman’s Executive Program and administrative space, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education’s research activities and professional Master of Kinesiology program, Faculty of Arts & Science’s Masters of Mathematical Finance program, and graduate, research and faculty expansion within the Munk School of Global Affairs.