Energy Manager

Features Institutional
A pinnacle of passive design: U of T Scarborough’s new 750-bed student residence

November 30, 2020  By  Anthony Capkun


Image courtesy Handel Architects.

November 30, 2020 – Construction is underway on a new 750-bed student residence building that will double the current residence capacity at U of T Scarborough.

Most notably, the building is among North America’s largest Passive House projects: a low-energy design concept that includes high-efficiency criteria for building and window insulation, as well as heating and ventilation.

“This is the largest passive house project of its kind in North America, meaning our students are living in a facility that provides the cutting-edge, sustainable technologies that our university is striving to model,” said Andrew Arifuzzaman, U of T Scarborough’s chief administrative officer.

The building’s energy-efficient features include triple-glazed windows, walls with improved thermal performance, and continuous insulation, among others. The result is a 40% to 60% heating and cooling-related energy savings compared to conventional buildings.

Advertisement

The residence, which is being built by general contractor Pomerleau, will also use Spot, Boston Dynamic’s robot dog, during the construction phase to document work progress, and support health, safety and quality standards.

The new residence will be located on Ellesmere Road, and is scheduled to open Fall 2023.

— With files from Don Campbell. Image courtesy Handel Architects.


Print this page

Advertisement

Stories continue below