Limberlost Place at George Brown College’s Waterfront Campus “topped off”

(TORONTO) August 21, 2023 – Limberlost Place, Ontario’s first mass-timber, net-zero carbon emissions institutional building, has now reached the highest point in construction. The final wood and steel beams were installed in the 10-storey facility located at George Brown College’s (GBC) Waterfront campus in Toronto’s growing east Bayfront community.

To celebrate this milestone, which is known as “topping off” in the construction industry, project partners and the trades workforce signed a beam earlier this summer before it was lifted into place at the top of the building.

Limberlost Place’s structure was completed using an intricate installation method including a sequence where each mass timber column and cross-laminated slab band would be placed. The structure includes three, three-storey mass timber columns which are amongst some of the largest in North America.

Topping off signifies a shift in focus to completing the exterior envelope, starting the interior fit-up (including the installation of other mass timber pieces such as the learning landscape feature stairs), and commissioning the building.

Designed by Acton Ostry Architects and Moriyama Teshima Architects with PCL Construction managing construction, Limberlost Place will be home to GBC’s schools of architectural studies and computer technology, and the Brookfield Sustainability Institute. Students will learn in and from this innovative and future-proof facility. Its internationally award-winning design and construction surpasses the Toronto Green Standard for reduced carbon emissions, and is changing national and provincial building codes for mass-timber buildings over six storeys.

Fast Facts

  •  Limberlost Place’s structure consists of made-in-Canada mass-timber components and a structural steel core.
  • 139 cross-laminated timber and concrete composite slab bands were prefabricated at an off-site facility before being shipped to site for final installation.
    • Weighing 17,000 pounds each, the cross-laminated timber pieces were prepared with kerf plates, screws, rebar, concrete, M&E sleeves, roof anchors and column bases.
    • The slab bands were piled in order of installation, indicating the exact spot where each timber piece would be installed in the building.
  • Limberlost Place’s structure is made up of approximately 1,190 pieces of cross laminated timber pieces and 571 glue-laminated mass timber pieces.
    • The total volume of cross-laminated timber is 3,310 cubic meters.
    • The total volume of glue-laminated timber is 822 cubic meters.
  • The structure uses 5,850 cubic meters of concrete.
  • Limberlost Place has over 22,306 unique steel components.

Quotes

“Limberlost Place is a complex project to oversee because of how far its design is pushing the boundaries in advancing current sustainable building practices. We are incredibly proud of how everyone involved – from project consultants to skilled trades – is demonstrating true collaboration and commitment to bring this landmark learning destination to life.  Along with our donors and partners, we had a shared vision about sustainability and Limberlost Place is a celebration of our working together.” –  Dr. Gervan Fearon, President, George Brown College

“As we reach the halfway point in building Limberlost Place, we reflect on George Brown College’s innovative vision and each one of our partners’ drive and commitment to bring it to life. A special thank you goes to the tradespeople who built Limberlost Place from the ground up. We have put our passion for a resilient future to work in order to reach the top. Now, together, we will deliver Limberlost Place as a beacon of sustainability that will drive the future of mass timber construction for years to come.” – Myke Badry, District Manager, PCL Constructors Canada Inc.

“We celebrate this Limberlost Place milestone and the people who have been on this journey, including the students, researchers, faculty, donors, the trades and architects, and the City. It represents relentless collaboration, collective creativity, and tenacious commitment by the entire team.” – Carol Phillips, Partner, Moriyama Teshima Architects

“Limberlost Place’s topping-off celebration was a moment of reflection and honour for the forests from which the timber was harvested. Future generations of students, staff, children and community members – surrounded by the massive, exposed black spruce glulam columns and beams – will learn, collaborate and work in one of Toronto’s most iconic and sustainable buildings,” – Russell Acton, Founding Principal, Acton Ostry Architects 

Project Team

  • Owner: George Brown College
  • Architect: Moriyama Teshima Architects in joint venture with Acton Ostry Architects
  • Construction Manager: PCL Constructors Canada Inc.
  • Mass Timber: Nordic Structures
  • Structural Engineer: Fast + Epp
  • Mechanical and Electrical Engineer: Introba
  • Structural Steel Design-Assist: Walters Group
  • Building Envelope: Morrison Hershfield
  • Sustainability Consultant: Transsolar

Additional Resource

About PCL Construction

PCL is a group of independent construction companies that carries out work across Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and Australia. These diverse operations in the civil infrastructure, heavy industrial, and buildings markets are supported by a strategic presence in more than 30 major centers. Together, these companies have an annual construction volume of more than $8 billion, making PCL the largest contracting organization in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Watch us build at www.pcl.com.

About George Brown College

Toronto’s George Brown College is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples.   

George Brown prepares innovative, adaptable graduates with the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing job market. With three campuses in the downtown core, the college blends theory with experiential learning, applied research, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Students can earn certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates, apprenticeships, and degrees. www.georgebrown.ca