On May 1 the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) and project partners proudly hosted the opening of the new state-of-the-art Headquarters and multi-tenant commercial building.
The event provided an opportunity for public sector and industry leaders to explore the cutting-edge features and sustainable design elements that make this building truly exceptional. Explore highlights from the opening tour here.
At the heart of this project’s success lies the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders. BTY provided an integrated suite of services including Project Management, Cost Management, and Construction Phase Project Monitoring and Payment Certification.
Senior Project Manager Negar Panahi expressed gratitude to OSSTF for entrusting BTY to bring their vision to life, stating, “We are honoured to have acted as an extension of OSSTF in delivering their vision of success on this project.”
Echoing this sentiment, BTY Director Penny Phelan emphasized the significance of the new facility in setting new precedents for sustainable design and operations. Phelan remarked, “This facility not only showcases the capabilities and beauty of working with mass timber but also sets a new standard for environmentally conscious construction.”
Designed by Moriyama Teshima and constructed by Eastern Construction, the OSSTF Headquarters has already garnered wide recognition, winning the Gold Award in the 2024 Architecture Press Release (APR) Global Future Design and the 2023 LOOP Design Award for the Concept Category. Key members of the project team, including Fast + Epp, Integral Group, Matrix Solutions Inc., Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning, Strange Colour, FORREC have played integral roles in bringing this visionary project to fruition.
Spanning three storeys and 124,000 square feet, the headquarters seamlessly integrates commercial opportunities with the revitalization of OSSTF’s existing office complex in Toronto. Overlooking the picturesque Don Valley ravine landscape, the building is a highly sustainable, financially viable, and innovative new workplace that targets both LEED Platinum certification and high-energy performance levels.
The design promotes health and wellness at every level, maximizing natural daylighting, utilizing geothermal heating and cooling, and incorporating rainwater harvesting systems, green roofs, and rooftop solar panels.
Constructed using cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor slabs and glue-laminated timber (GLT) beams and columns, the building represents a harmonious blend of natural materials and cutting-edge technology.
