The Elementary Teacher’s Federation of Ontario (ETFO) building earned LEED Platinum certification, making it the first purpose-built structure in Toronto to attain the status.

The four-storey office also achieved a national first in geothermal heating and cooling. ETFO partners used new technology to drill down 50 storeys from the underground parking garage after the office had been constructed, whereas drilling to sink geothermal columns was only possible before construction on new buildings.

This installation, accomplished on behalf of ETFO, KPMB Architects, Bird Construction and Fēnix Energy, creates the possibility for older buildings to be retrofitted with geothermal energy.

“As educators, we are driven to lead by example,” said Sam Hammond, president of EFTO. “That is why we wanted our office to be a model, and lead in terms of its environmental construction and footprint.”

The EFTO system has achieved a 71 per cent reduction in heating and cooling energy, and it also shortened the construction time period. A green roof, daylight motion sensors and solar shades to reduce solar gain are other design features worth noting.