RC107 JulyAugust2023 - Magazine - Page 13
A LIVING LAB
George Brown College’s Limberlost Place
is a global model of mass-timber construction
by Mark Cardwell
ORONTO ARCHITECT MIKE LOVE says he’d be proud to be
involved with any of the many prestigious building
projects that are going on right now in the heart
of his hometown. But if he had to choose one, the
39-year-old says it would be the amazing mass
timber project he’s currently managing on the Six’s
waterfront.
“Toronto is booming these days, it’s insane,” said Love,
an award-winning superintendent with PCL Construction, Canada’s largest general contracting company. “The
skyline is filled with cranes and there are so many great
projects. But there isn’t one I’d rather be part of than Limberlost Place. It’s the closest to my heart.”
What’s not to love about Limberlost Place? It’s the first
tall wood building in Ontario and a striking 10-storey
institutional structure with one underground level that
incorporates an all-Canadian line up of unique manufactured materials, ecological innovations, and novel
engineering and design features.
Under construction since August 2021, the low-carbon,
net-zero building is already considered
a new global model for mass timber
construction and will be years ahead of
Toronto’s goals for construction sustainMASS CONSTRUCTION
ability and performance when it finally
Approximately 65 feet above street level, the bridge is 21.4
opens its doors to students and staff of
meters long and is made up of two glue-laminated trusses and
George Brown College (GBC) in January
four cross-laminated timber panels.
2025.
The two glulam trusses are made up of 10 pieces each, with two
“I was interested in mass timber
truss chords and eight vertical members.
construction long before this project
The vertical members are connected with 22 steel plates and
came along,” said Love. “So, when the
241 steel dowels that pin the truss chords and vertical members
opportunity arose, I threw my hat in
to the steel connection plates.
and was fortunate enough to be named
The truss chords weigh approximately 4,250 pounds each. The
lead superintendent. This is one of those
vertical members weigh 640 pounds each.
iconic jobs you want to be a part of.”
Each cross-laminated panel weighs approximately 7,840
Located on GBC’s Waterfront Campounds each.
pus and overlooking Toronto Harbour
At the point of install, the bridge weighed approximately 31
at Queens Quay East and Dockside
metric tonnes.
Drive, the purpose-built facility is being
built next to GBC’s decade-old Daphne
LIMBERLOST PLACE PROJECT TEAM
Cockwell Centre for Health Sciences. In
Owner: George Brown College
March, an all-timber, 31-tonne pedestrian
Architect: Moriyama Teshima Architects in joint venture with
walkway was installed between LimberActon Ostry Architects
lost’s sixth floor and the health sciences
Construction manager: PCL Constructors Canada Inc.
centre’s fifth floor, connecting the two
Mass Timber: Nordic Structures
buildings 65 feet above street level.
Structural Engineer: Fast + Epp
Initially dubbed The Arbour—a name
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer: Integral Group
inspired
by the mass timber design proStructural Steel Design-Assist: Walters Group
posed
by
architectural joint venture partBuilding Envelope: Morrison Hershfield
ners
Moriyama
Teshima and Acton Ostry
Sustainability Consultant: Transsolar
Architects, winners of GBC’s four-month
international design competition—it was
T
RENEWCANADA.NET
Mark Cardwell is a
freelance writer based
in the Quebec City region
JULY/AUGUST 2023 – RENEW CANADA 13