PROJECT STORY
The challenge
To deliver a student residence that is the largest completed Passive House project in Canada.
Harmony Commons
Bringing a groundbreaking passive-house residence to the University of Toronto Scarborough campus
The solution
Arcadis’ delivery prioritized innovation and sustainability, incorporating advanced energy efficiency principles and construction techniques.
The impact
The residence welcomed 746 students at the start of the 2023 school year, and successfully achieved Passive House certification.
746 beds
for first-year University of Toronto students
261,400 sq ft
of wellness-focused, energy-efficient, student spaces
13.2 kwh/m²
TEDI Score for the building, lower than the Passive House requirement of 15 kwh/m2
The challenge
Housing, particularly student housing, has been at the forefront of public concern in Canada in recent years. Furthermore, many institutions have been struggling with competing priorities to deliver new student buildings while also meeting their climate commitments. Additionally, universities also seek to provide students with a healthy and social environment to enhance the student experience in our rapidly changing world. As a Passive-House, mixed-use residence for students, Harmony Commons seeks to address all these challenges.
The solution
As the Architect of Record, Arcadis has played a pivotal role in bringing this remarkable project to fruition at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus. Harmony Commons incorporates student living and community space, conference services, commercial and retail spaces, and a large dining hall with a servery.
The project’s Passive House principles focused on improved thermal performance, effective mechanical and electrical (M&E) control systems, and reduced water consumption. This approach pairs a high-performance building enclosure with efficient M&E control systems, creating a net zero energy-ready building.
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The residence’s Passive House approach is fabric first, with improved building envelope thermal performance and airtightness. The wall assembly, featuring insulated steel studs with 6” exterior mineral wool insulation, is the backbone of this high-performance building enclosure. A hermetically sealed self-adhesive membrane was applied to the sheathing, establishing a continuous air barrier before the installation of insulation and cladding. Achieving airtightness around windows and other penetration points was critical. A series of mockups and a continuous site review process were essential to attain the rigorous demands of the Passive House certification standard.
A decentralized HVAC system is comprised of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) units for temperature control, and an innovative heat recovery strategy incorporates energy recovered from exhaust air, kitchen exhaust, laundry dryer exhaust, and shower drainage. HVAC filtration and direct outside air supply provide excellent indoor air quality. The building services, including heating, cooling, cooking, and hot water, are entirely electrified, thus eliminating the need for carbon-emitting fossil fuel energy sources.
The project was completed in collaboration with Handel and Core Architects, who have acted as the University's design consultants.
The impact
The project opened to students in September 2023, at the start of the school year, and successfully achieved Passive House certification shortly after. Green roofs, mixed-use spaces, and a preserved grove of historic trees ensure the project prioritizes student wellness alongside design excellence and sustainability.
With its high-performance building enclosure and cutting-edge M&E control systems, Harmony Commons is paving the way for a future of sustainable living. It's inspiring to see how these advancements contribute to the creation of a net-zero energy-ready building, further reinforcing our commitment to environmental stewardship and responsible development.
The completion of this state-of-the-art, design-excellence focused project lays down a marker for future projects, both at the University of Toronto and at institutions across Canada.
