George Brown College (GBC) celebrated a topping-off ceremony for its Limberlost Place building on August 9.

In addition to officials from the college, Stacey LaForme, Chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, PCL District Manager Myke Badry, design team leads Carol Phillips of Moriyama Teshima Architects and Russell Acton of Acton Ostry Architects attended the celebration.

Topping-off ceremonies mark the installation or raising of a building's highest structural element.

GBC President Dr. Gervan Fearon expressed gratitude to everyone who is helping to make the project a reality.

“I want each of you here today to know you have been very much a part of making the structure and innovation possible. It represents a contribution to the college and a legacy to future generations,” he said. “This achievement is your achievement. Each of you can be and should be very proud.”

Construction crews broke ground on Limberlost Place in December 2021. The 10-storey structure, built using Canadian-sourced mass-timber components, was designed by the team of Moriyama Teshima Architects and Acton Ostry Architects. PCL is the project’s constructor.

“Limberlost Place sets a new standard for green building and specifically mass-timber construction, and today’s topping-off ceremony marks a significant milestone,” said Project Director Nerys Rau. “We are immensely proud of the progress made so far on this stunning example of climate-resilient construction that raises the bar when it comes to both design and function.”

The structure includes a mass-timber pedestrian bridge on the fifth floor, which connects it to the Daphne Cockwell Centre for Health Sciences, and the largest wood column of its kind in North America.

Now that the building frame is complete, a new phase of work begins inside the net-zero carbon emissions building, which will open for classes in January 2025.

Crews will soon start installing and assembling the elements that promote well-being, the adaptable use of space, and energy efficiency at Limberlost Place. These elements include the passive ventilation system powered by solar chimneys, rooftop photovoltaics, a deep-water cooling system, and flexible design components that maximize access to natural light and fresh air.

Once completed, Limberlost Place will be the new home to the schools of Architectural Studies and Computer Technology, Mary’s Place Child Care Centre, and a state-of-the-art student fitness facility. It will also house the Brookfield Sustainability Institute, where GBC will work with government, community and industry partners to solve challenges posed by climate change.

The building design has earned several honours, including the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s 2023 Research and Innovation award.