Ontario Construction News Staff Writer
Centennial College’s Block A Expansion, built by EllisDon, has earned WELL Silver Certification under the WELL Building Standard.
WELL Certification is an internationally recognized benchmark that focuses on human wellness and environmental factors that contribute to healthier building environments. By integrating the latest scientific research and industry best practices, the WELL Standard addresses critical concerns such as air and water quality, thermal comfort, mental well-being, and physical activity.
“Our design decisions were driven by the goal of improving indoor air quality, providing clean water, and ensuring thermal comfort,” said Pablo Lopez Arbelaez, project manager of sustainable building solutions at EllisDon. “These sustainability practices are aligned with both EllisDon’s commitment to environmental stewardship and Centennial College’s dedication to fostering a healthy learning environment.
“Achieving WELL Silver Certification is a significant step in supporting the well-being of the Block A community.”
The project is an example of how sustainable construction can benefit both the environment and human health. The new five-story structure, covering 136,000 square feet of new space and an additional 16,085 square feet of renovated area, was designed to accommodate growing student populations and offer state-of-the-art facilities for active learning, research, and the development of the School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science.
The expansion includes three major components:
- a new building for student services and academic offices
- partial renovation of the original 1994 A Block
- improvements to the exterior of both buildings
The new building features mass timber construction and blends modern design with Indigenous perspectives, including the “two-eyed seeing” concept that integrates Indigenous knowledge with Western scientific principles.
Toronto’s first post-secondary facility built using mass timber, construction used 3,600 cubic meters of locally sourced cross-laminated and glue-laminated timber from Nordic Structures in Montreal.
The project also prioritized energy efficiency and thermal comfort. A high-performance building envelope reduces thermal loads, and an advanced mechanical system optimizes indoor comfort. Renewable energy solutions, such as solar panels, were integrated into the design to offset energy requirements, furthering the building’s sustainability goals.
EllisDon also conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the embodied carbon footprint of the project. The LCA identified key opportunities for carbon reduction, contributing to the development’s alignment with the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) Zero Carbon Certification standards.
For more information about Centennial College Block A Expansion, click here.
