George Brown College, an urban community college with three campuses in downtown Toronto, is expanding its properties with a fourth campus dedicated to health science. The new Waterfront Health Sciences Campus, a 492, 357 sq ft integrated vertical campus, will be located in the heart of Toronto’s developing waterfront. A single, purpose-designed facility will consolidate George Brown’s schools of Dental Health, Health and Wellness, Health Services Management and Nursing, encompassing a student enrolment of 3,500 students, 500 faculty, continuing education and clinical programs.

Recognizing that healthcare is shifting from isolated medical functions to an integrated delivery of care, and that changing the way health providers are educated and trained is key to achieving this systemic change, George Brown College required that the design manifest the concept of Inter-Professional Education (IPE), where two or more professions collaborate and share information to improve the quality of patient care.

The overall composition is grounded by a flexible academic loft bar building along the west side. Facing south, east and north, a three-storey, highly transparent glass podium element is programmed with retail, food services, clinics, student amenity space and an auditorium. Above this, cantilevered on the south-east corner, a floating two-storey element denotes the Library. An exterior terrace on the roof of the Library offers a warm and inviting atmosphere with wood decking, pergola, and green roof landscape. On the north-east corner, a pair of stacked lecture hall volumes floats above the podium.

In addition to a LEED Gold target, the design prioritizes the essential principles of sustainability, inclusive of maximum exposure to fresh air, natural light, and views; access to public transit and alternative modes of transportation; and a commitment to building for the long term.

George Brown College bringing its bustle to the waterfront
February 23, 2010