TO-22-C038 - A Hub for Collaboration-TRCA's New Headquarters PDF

The building is intended to celebrate and promote the work of the TRCA in protecting all water sheds in the Greater Toronto Area. The integration of Water into the design of the building is a key requirement identified by the Owner at the project outset. The building is intended to be ultra-low energy, empowering TRCA to showcase a deep green building to developers and policy makers, both within Toronto and across Canada. The building will cover 8,390 m2 (90,276ft2) and have an occupancy of 404 staff.

A highly insulated enclosure was designed with wall and roof R-Values of RSI 4.4 (R-25) and RSI-7 (R-40) and a window wall ratio (WWR) of 40% was provided on the north, east and west facades while a WWR of 60% was provided on the southern elevation. To provide control over the solar gains, exterior shading was implemented. In support of the passive ventilation systems in the building, operable windows are installed in the building that allow air to transfer from the exterior into the building. The building has been provided with a geo-exchange system, which provides a fully electric, low-carbon hydronic system for the building, contributing significantly towards the client's ability to achieve their Zero Carbon target. The geo-exchange system has been supplemented by a 48 solar thermal panel rooftop array. The array collects solar energy and rejects it to the geo-exchange field, ensuring that appropriate ground temperature balance is maintained seasonally within the field.