Acton Ostry Architects
Current

Limberlost Place is a ten-storey, tall wood academic building that is currently under construction on the George Brown College Waterfront Campus in Toronto. This first-of-its-kind mass timber building features a revolutionary exposed cross-laminated timber and glulam structure with a striking, angular rooftop silhouette. A triple-height atrium with a series of cascading seat-stairs will display learning activities to the surrounding neighbourhood. Innovative net zero-ready building components include a thermally-efficient prefabricated building envelope, deep lake water cooling, rooftop photovoltaic panels and two soaring natural ventilation solar chimneys that will draw air up and through the building. The project is a collaboration of Moriyama & Teshima Architects and Acton Ostry Architects.

project

Limberlost Place

location

Toronto, Ontario

client

George Brown College

completion

2025

size

16,250 sqm

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model

sustainability

LEED Gold
mass timber
CTBUH Innovation Award of Excellence
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Research & Innovation Medal
Architizer A+ Awards Unbuilt Sustainable Project Jury Winner

awards & recognition

2024
CTBUH Innovation Award of Excellence
CTBUH Structure Award

2023
RTF Global Architecture Design Award, First Award
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Research & Innovation Medal
Architizer A+ Awards Unbuilt Sustainable Project Jury Winner
Fast Company, Innovation by Design Award, Finalist Excellence
Fast Company, Innovation by Design Award, Finalist Urban Design

2022
APR Global Future Design Gold Award
World Architecture Festival WAFX Award
WAF Future Projects Education Award - Shortlist
RTF Architecture Construction and Design Award, concept Institutional
Waterfront Toronto Excellence in Design Innovation Award

2021
Ontario Engineering Projects Award of Excellence

2019
WAN Awards Future Projects Gold
Azure Magazine Unbuilt Building Award
Azure Magazine Unbuilt Building People's Choice Award
MIPIM & Architectural Review Future Project Award

2018
Canadian Architect Award of Excellence
ReThinking the Future Award, Certificate of First Award
ReThinking the Future Architecture, Construction & Design Award

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Queens Quay

The architects have skillfully demonstrated that the most aspirational environmental goals can be achieved in a building that is also inspiring for its beautiful and joyful spaces. Limberlost Place is what architecture should be in Canada.

RAIC Awards Jury

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learning landscape atrium

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learning landscape mezzanine

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approach to central stair

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central stair

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roof peak gathering

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roof peak meeting

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learning landscape construction

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learning landscape construction

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CLT slab band & glulam wallumns

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mass timber bridge installation

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mass timber bridge installation

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roof peak construction

The design is a very clean execution of the program, targeting net-zero energy, achieving resiliency, and using smart-building technologies in a mass timber structure. The project presents the possibility of longer span wood structures becoming a viable option in the mass wood market.

Canadian Architect Awards