The Green Room: 12 Storey tall wood tower to be built on Toronto waterfront

Things are happening so fast in the wood world these days that it is hard to keep up; we had not even covered Toronto's George Brown College short list of architects for a tall wood building for its new waterfront campus when they announce the winner. It is Moriyama and Teshima, a long-time favourite in these parts, and Acton Ostry Architects, who built what is for the moment the world's tallest timber tower in Vancouver, British Columbia.

© George Brown College

The 12 storey tall Arbour Building (sorry for all the Canadian spelling here, lots of extra e's and u's) "is expected to be net-positive, reducing the college’s carbon footprint, and in turn, lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Once built, students and researchers will learn to design, construct, operate, and monitor climate-friendly buildings." It is also going to be a "smart" building, " networked, intelligent, sensitive, and adaptable. With building automation at the forefront of design and development innovation, this project provides an opportunity to create a facility that can integrate, adapt, monitor, and test latest technologies as well as share best practices with industry and students."

© George Brown College

According to the press release,

In selecting the winning design, the jury said, “the concept excelled across all aspects of the selection criteria: innovative use of wood throughout; excellent energy use that makes the building resilient and future-proof; exquisite space planning that supports a range of classroom, lab and other academic needs; and spaces that will have a strong resonance with students and the broader East Bayfront community.”

© George Brown College

Once complete, The Arbour will host Canada’s first Tall Wood Research Institute, allowing students and researchers to generate innovative ideas and research in low-carbon, mass timber construction. It will also become home to the college’s School of Computer Technology, and a new child care facility.

Construction will start in 2021, presumably to allow building code changes that make 12 storeys legal in Ontario.

The architects are happy campers: "We look forward to ushering in a new era in Canada's design and building industry for our collective low-carbon future,” said representatives from Moriyama & Teshima Architects + Acton Ostry Architects."

Perhaps better late than never, here are the runners-up: