TSA Building Tour: OSSTF Headquarters

Our next TSA Building Tour is right around the corner! Join us as we go behind the scenes on this recently-completed mass timber project: the new Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) Headquarters and Multi-Tenant Commercial Building.

Overlooking the Don Valley ravine, the OSSTF Headquarters and Multi-Tenant Commercial Building is a 3-storey 124,000 square foot mass timber project that integrates commercial opportunities with the relocation and revitalization of the OSSTF’s office centre. A highly sustainable, financially viable, and innovative new workplace designed by Moriyama Teshima Architects, this facility uses net-zero carbon strategies, and targets LEED Platinum certification, as well as high-energy performance levels to create a building that is both healthy for the environment and its occupants. Designed to the highest environmental standards using primarily natural materials including cross laminated timber (CLT) floor slabs and glue laminated timber (GLT) beams and columns, the OSSTF headquarters is built on a foundation of social, environmental, and financial sustainability.

During this tour we will have the opportunity to learn more about the building’s unique design, the long-term considerations that helped shape decisions on materials and systems, and take a look at many of the signature spaces that define the new building including its multi storey atrium. This tour will be led by the design team at Moriyama Teshima Architects. You can learn more about our tour guides below.

TSA Member Priority Access: This tour is 50% off for TSA Members using the promo code found in the latest TSA Bulletin or on the Member Dashboard. TSA Members also receive early access to tickets on Wednesday, July 17 at 9:00 AM. Spots remaining will then be made available to the public on July 24 at 9:00 AM. Not a member yet? Become a TSA Member today and get access to free, discounted, and exclusive member programming.

About the Project: Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation Headquarters and Multi-Tenant Commercial Building

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) new Headquarters and Multi-Tenant Commercial Building is a progressive 3-storey, 124,000 SF mass timber project that seamlessly integrates commercial opportunities with the revitalization of the OSSTF/FEESO’s existing office complex in Toronto. Overlooking the Don Valley ravine landscape, the building is a highly sustainable, financially viable, and innovative new workplace that uses net-zero carbon emissions strategies, and targets both LEED Platinum certification and high-energy performance levels at 67 kWhr/m2/year.

The new OSSTF/FEESO Headquarters and Multi-Tenant Commercial Building is spatially divided to house the OSSTF/FEESO offices as well as two floors of leasable tenant space. Joined by a central atrium, the building offers abundant outside views, light, openness, and numerous opportunities for spontaneous interactions between the OSSTF/FEESO staff and tenants. Furthermore, shareable spaces on the main floor include the lobby, café, and main floor terrace, and features a multipurpose, convertible event space; this space is shared not only by the building occupants, but also by outside groups, providing opportunities for engagement with the wider community.

The architecture promotes health and wellness at every level: natural daylighting has been maximized thanks to generous structural bays; building automation systems move fresh air through the building; large overhangs reduce solar heat gain and control glare; geothermal heating, a rainwater harvesting system for toilet flushing and irrigation, green roof, rooftop solar PV panels, and automated daylight dimming controls further contribute to significant energy savings. Constructed using cross laminated timber (CLT) floor slabs and glue laminated timber (GLT) beams and columns, structural components have been sourced nationally where possible, and demonstrate a robust, honest, yet innovative application of natural materials. Designed to the highest environmental standards, the OSSTF/FEESO headquarters is built on a foundation of social, environmental, and financial sustainability.

Learn more about this project here.

Project Team

Architect: Moriyama Teshima

Landscape Design: FORREC

Project Manager: BTY Group

Construction Management: Eastern Construction

Workplace Interiors: Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning

Structural Engineering: Fast + Epp

Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, A/V, IT, Lighting, LEED Consulting: Introba

Civil Engineering: Matrix Solutions Inc.

About TSA Building Tours

Designed for architects by architects, the TSA Building Tours offer unique behind-the-scenes access to recently completed or under construction buildings across the GTA. Led by the team behind their design, these tours provide an opportunity to hear the stories behind the architecture and learn about the challenges and successes in ideating and realising the vision for the building.

TSA Building Tours are made possible thanks to the generous support of STEIN + REGENCY.