Construction has started on the University of Toronto's Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre on the north side of College Street just east of Queen's Park Crescent.
The rendering above was submitted to the City of Toronto by Weiss/Manfredi Architects along with Teeple Architects per Urban Toronto.
After the demolition of the 1954 built Best Building (Banting and Best Complex), the way was clear for the construction of the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre which will feature paired 12 and 20 storey tapered trapezoidal connected towers.
The first phase western tower will be the shorter of the phases, rising 12 storeys and containing 250,000 ft2 of institutional space.
After the demolition of the former Best building's basement in March, backfilling was started to make way for heavy equipment. The first drilling rig arrived on the site at the beginning of April when actual construction started. This initial stage consisted of boreholes drilled around the site's perimeter into which steel I-beams were inserted. These will be the vertical supports for below-grade shoring walls that will hold the surrounding soil in place during excavation.
The building's foundations and underground levels will then follow. The 12 storey, 250,000 ft2 first phase will house the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society and also the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence which will specialize in deep learning and machine learning research.
The complex will feature the following:
- Space for startups and fast-growing companies
- Vertical gardens
- Multiple atria
- Collaborative spaces to serve the future of the rapidly-expanding local tech sector and the University of Toronto's innovation and entrepreneurship network
It is hoped that this new complex will attract other artificial intelligence experts and help to spark additional innovations.
Phase two will include the following:
- 20 storey, 500,000 ft2 Tower to the east
- Combined total of 750,000 ft2 of new institutional space across the complex
- Will contain laboratories and research space for innovators in regenerative medicine, genetics and precision medicine
According to Teeple Architects, the building cladding is an innovative design, with a variety of facade elements from other institutional buildings in the area, designed to assist in reaching the overall university goal to reduce energy use to 20% or more below ASHRAE-2013. The overall sustainability target is equivalent to LEED Gold. Strategies include radiant floor heating, solar PV, highly reduced lighting loads due to the excellent daylighting opportunities achieved through small floor plates, heat recovery and storm water capture and reuse.
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - UT Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre West Commissioning - (0109062819)
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - UT Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre West Construction Management Contractor Services - (0022050219)
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - UT Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre West - (0043052719)
