Client

Toronto District School Board

Building Size

16,536 sq.m / 178,000 sq.ft

Location

Toronto, ON

In developing a design for this replacement school, our recommended design approach realizes a denser and more compact ‘superblock’ configuration, maximizing stacking in a building more than two-storeys in height.

The ‘superblock’ building type characteristically suggests orthogonal forms with no curves or ‘faceted’ curves. The ‘superblock’ concept, as a point of departure, suggests a basic education building as a single volume incorporating all necessary teaching spaces and supporting amenities, with the option for a separate wing for the gymnasium/health program.

All teaching/instructional rooms will be provided with access to natural daylighting using windows or clerestory windows. Service spaces and certain academic teaching spaces (such as theatre arts) will be situated at the core of the building with the majority of teaching spaces wrapped around them.

This consolidation of building form into a more densely packed program will result in efficiencies in terms of the Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing systems and a more efficient building envelope. This also has a favourable benefit to lower operating and energy costs.