Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) makes $2-million contribution towards the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s (TRCA) new four-storey mass timber office building.
Located at 5 Shoreham Drive near York University, the 8,100 square-metre building will meet a number of environmental standards, including the Toronto Green Standard Tier II certification, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification and the WELL Silver certification.
Sustainable design features will include:
- Solar thermal panels on the roof
- Four solar chimneys
- Waterwalls to reduce energy use
- Electric vehicle charging stations
- Rainwater harvesting to irrigate a green roof
“TRCA is committed to applying the best practices in green building and sustainable design,” said John MacKenzie, chief executive officer, TRCA in a Government of Canada press release.
“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.”
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,” added Jennifer Innis, Chair, TRCA.
The funding was contributed as part of NRCan’s Green Construction Through Wood (GCWood) program, which aims to encourage greater use of wood in construction projects.
The project is also participating in the Canadian Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Pilot Program.
