The Restoration Services Centre for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority is a showcase for sustainable building design and one of the first buildings in Ontario to achieve LEED® Platinum Certification for new construction (and 4th in Canada). It incorporates a number of advanced sustainable design features such as rainwater harvesting, composting toilets, recycled building materials, an earth tube, heat recovery ventilators, photovoltaics, high levels of natural daylighting and a geoexchange system, one of the most clean and energy efficient space conditioning systems available.
This two-storey building consists of a basement and external grounds. Site preparation work included earthwork, on-site storm water management systems, enlargement of an existing retention pond, foundation drainage systems, a septic system and a horizontal ground source heat pump/ heat exchanger field.
The superstructure of the building is comprised of concrete footings, foundation walls, concrete slabs on-grade and concrete structural slabs. It is framed with structural lumber, which incorporates solid wood members, engineered wood members and salvaged heavy timber members. The exterior cladding of the building is composed of exterior pre-finished wood siding, pre-finished cedar soffits, salvaged brick veneer and pre-finished aluminum panel systems. Aluminum windows and curtain walls are incorporated into the exterior envelope, along with aluminum louvers and exterior high-speed garage doors.
Mechanically, the building is heated and cooled via an in-slab radiant piping system, fed by a water-to-water ground source heat pump. Wall mounted, chilled water fan-coil units cool the structure while natural gas radiant tube heaters, heat recovery ventilators and exhaust fans heat it.
Other unique features of this building include the incorporation of composting toilets and waterless urinals and a roof comprised of a cost-effective EPDM system. The building is protected by a fire alarm system and fire extinguishers, instead of a sprinkler system.
