Harmony Commons at the University of Toronto Scarborough
Harmony Commons at the University of Toronto Scarborough is the largest Passive House project in Canada and the largest Passive House dormitory in the world.
Harmony Commons at the University of Toronto Scarborough is at the centerpiece of the northward expansion of the University’s 300-acre campus. Designed to house 746 students and supportive resident advisors, the building also serves the wider campus with its first full dining hall as well as central offices that serve student life and campus security.
Taking advantage of the natural surroundings, the building has been sited and shaped so that as many occupied spaces as possible feel a connection to the outside. A preserved, historic grove of trees to the north becomes a focal point for many of the units, common rooms, and the large dining hall at ground level.
The new student residences are Passive House certified, making Harmony Commons the largest Passive House project in Canada and the largest Passive House dormitory in the world.
The Vertical Quadrangle
The design approach is based on the organization of a traditional low-rise campus quad.
First, the "quad" was increased vertically from low-rise to mid-rise.
Next, the quad was opened up to an adjacent grove of trees.
Finally, the form was sculpted to improve views and mark the formal corner entry.
The new Student Residences are Passive House certified, the most rigorous sustainability standard in the world.
When compared to similar dormitories on the UTSC campus, Harmony Commons consumes 70% less energy and contributes 90% less greenhouse gas emissions per person in peak conditions. Energy consumption is reduced thanks to a high-performance envelope, low-energy systems, and heat recovery from ventilation exhaust and wastewater. The all-electric systems allow emissions reductions to outperform reductions in energy consumption, taking advantage of Ontario’s increasingly renewable electricity grid. Even with a commercial kitchen serving 3,000+ meals per day, Harmony Commons has zero on-site fossil fuel combustion.
Double-story layering reduces the apparent verticality of the building, enhancing its “fit” into the low-rise neighborhood, and creating an informal domestic feel.
The high-performance building envelope incorporates a vertically patterned aluminum cladding system, which helps to diffuse the repetition of the windows. The earthy tones were inspired by and are evocative of Scarborough’s regional geography.
Dormitory rooms are arranged in clusters or “communities,” each having their own identity, and are all designed to create a strong sense of home.
The sculpted nature of the building’s form was driven by this concept of student communities. Each community is afforded private study spaces, gathering spaces and a common kitchen for planned or impromptu interactions.
Harmony Commons: Sustainable Student Living
Read more about the real world performance of Harmony Commons after one year of operations.
View Case Study