Tall & Urban News

Construction is underway on the University of Toronto’s 14-story Academic Wood Tower, a hybrid mass timber and steel structure. Located near Devonshire Place and Bloor Street, the 77-meter building will provide new space for the Rotman School of Management, the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, with the top five floors dedicated to Rotman’s executive education program.

Designed by Patkau Architects and MJMA Architecture & Design, with structural consulting from Blackwell Structural Engineers and Smith+Andersen, the project has received funding from Canada’s Green Construction through Wood program, emphasizing the country’s commitment to sustainable building. University President Meric Gertler hailed the hihg-rise as a showcase of Canada’s leadership in wood construction technologies.

Led by contractor Pomerleau, a veteran of multiple mass timber projects, the construction presents unique challenges. It is being built on top of the occupied Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, within a heavily trafficked university campus. The presence of students and an active clinic requires strict noise and disruption control. Mass timber construction also demands careful moisture management to prevent swelling and cracking. Pomerleau is using sensors, fans, dehumidifiers, and temporary HVAC systems to maintain ideal conditions for the wood components.

To address structural challenges, the building will feature 350 tonnes of steel diaphragm bracing to handle lateral loads. Eleven welded flange girders, some reaching two meters deep, will provide support, while BIM and virtual modeling technologies are being used to detect potential design clashes before construction progresses.

Completion of the building is set for 2026.

Learn more at Global Construction Review.