Green Building

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally-recognized green building standard administered by the Canada Green Building Council. There are four levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Certification is based on points awarded in five categories: sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. For more information on LEED, see the Canada Green Building Council’s website at http://www.cagbc.org/index.htm.

Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre

The Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre is certified to the LEED silver level, and is the first University of Toronto LEED certified building. The building incorporates several environmentally-friendly features, such as:

  • It was built over the site of an existing parking lot, so no green space was eliminated to construct it
  • A rooftop garden, which is not only aesthetically pleasing, it also helps to reduce the “urban heat island” effect
  • The building used a significant amount of regionally-sourced and recycled building materials
  • A green cleaning program operates in the building, significantly improving indoor air quality
  • Low-flow plumbing fixtures, to reduce water use in the facility
  • Low-emitting building materials, significantly improving indoor air quality.

Photo of HMALC

Health Sciences Complex

The Health Sciences Complex was completed in 2011. The building will be aim to be certified to LEED silver or better. Green features of the building include:

  • Vegetated roofs, that help mitigate the "urban heat island" effect
  • Low-emitting building materials, which improve indoor air quality
  • Most construction waste was diverted from the landfill
  • The building includes recycled, regional, and durable building materials
  • Rainwater from the building is directed to a large underground cistern.  The collected water is used for flushing toilets and for irrigation, thereby reducing the need to use city water.

Photo of the Health Sciences Complex from near the CCT building

South Building Phase I Renovation

This renovation took place in the area of the South Building where the library used to be, and provided much-needed office and meeting space. The renovation will be certified to LEED silver or better. Green features of the renovation include:

  • Skylights that let in natural light, minimizing the need for artificial lighting and improving occupant well-being
  • Sensors in certain areas shut off lights automatically when the area is unoccupied
  • Low-flow plumbing fixtures minimize water consumption
  • The use of recycled, rapidly renewable, and regionally-sourced construction materials.

Instructional Centre Complex

Construction was completed in 2011 on the Instructional Centre Complex, which houses lecture theatres, computer labs, and classrooms. The building is certified LEED silver. Green features of the building include:

  • It was built over the site of an existing parking lot, so no green space was eliminated to construct it
  • A ground-source heat pump (sometimes called geothermal) heating and cooling system, which reduces energy use in the building (see Ground-Source Heat Pump page)
  • Orientation of the building to maximize natural light
  • Energy-efficient lighting, computer, and AV equipment
  • Water-efficient fixtures
  • Use of durable, local building materials with renewable or recycled content.

View of Instructional Centre from the library