The Greater Toronto Area is home to a large number of post–war concrete apartment buildings, most of them built in the 1960s and 1970s. Many of these buildings show poor energy use intensity, the result of poorly insulated envelopes, outdated HVAC systems, and deteriorating window assemblies. Over-cladding Toronto’s post-war apartment towers is an efficient, carbon-sensitive way to reduce operational emissions from the city’s existing building stock. With the appropriate design solution, these retrofit projects can drastically improve building performance with minimized construction impact on tenants.

The presentation, scheduled for 10AM on December 1st at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), will explore the iterative process of planning and designing a comprehensive retrofit that has over cladding as its principal component. It will also speak to the converging building systems that guide the design direction for an overclad project, highlighting the importance of close collaboration between architects and building science experts. The talk will cover the possibilities of retaining the original character of aging post–war buildings when modernizing an existing complex, as well as present construction strategies that can streamline the process for building operators — effectively maintaining housing for existing tenants during the length of the project.  

Modernizing an existing residential complex can also yield opportunities for future infills, giving tower-in-the-park developments better street presence and creating more integrated campuses. The second phase of the Sherbourne Estates project includes two new infill towers that will efficiently optimize the use of land and infrastructure, complementing the newly retrofitted towers. 

The Buildings Show takes place at the MTCC from December 1–3, with most presentations eligible for OAA Continuing Education credits. Join Zeidler’s David Collins and Daniele Vezzoli, with Thornton Tomasetti’s Ken Maschke at 10AM on December 1st, as they speak to “Overcladding Solutions for Toronto’s Aging Concrete Apartment Towers”. The full program and list of speakers can be found here.

[Update] Read a recap of the talk by the Daily Commercial News.