Greenwood College School Expansion is an addition of 2 buildings located in the central area of Toronto
Expansion to a College in Toronto. Balanced mix of spaces for students
A building that offers students the comforts of a campus within the confines of a limited urban site is the expansion project for the city of Toronto by Montgomery Sisam Architects Inc
The dense four-storey structure borders the existing school at all levels, increasing the size of the school by 120%. Making efficient use of the limited surface area, it presents a balanced mix of work and social space that supports a customised approach to learning
Taking its cue from the climbing wall of the landmark erected in the heart of the existing school, the Expansion is designed to create a variety of spaces that support different educational experiences
Its reinforced concrete structure guarantees future adaptability as programming evolves. The spacious and flexible classrooms, located to the south, accommodate growing initiatives in co-teaching and interdisciplinary programming
An open and integrated floor plan connects these classrooms with specialized and avant-garde spaces for music, visual arts, digital media, theatre and athletics through a free flow of space
The expansion respects and involves its urban and residential context. The expansion of the existing stucco façade produces a new entrance porch. The porch improves Greenwood's visibility and presence on a major thoroughfare and serves to buffer nearby houses from this busy street. The south end of the building is reduced in height to a three-storey brick block. The roof terrace is designed as a destination offering an opportunity in a dense urban context to connect indoor teaching spaces directly into the open air with views of the city
Glass walls along the ground floor facade and the staircase connect the life and animation of the school with that of the street. Landscaping initiatives improve the pedestrian space along the streets. Car parks and service spaces, limited to a minimum at the back of the building, maintain the integrity of the public sphere, both inside and around the school
A measuring system has been installed in the building that allows students to access a breakdown of statistics on the building's energy use via the intranet. These systems serve to reduce the running costs of the building and reduce its impact on the environment, while educating students about daily energy consumption and green building practices
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