In April 2009, the new Archives of Ontario/Kaneff Tower building opened to the public. 

 

• Archives of Ontario - The three-storey, LEED-certified building gives the Archives a purpose-built space to house its documents, photographs, art and thousands of other records. Patrons can enjoy the new reading room, microfilm-reading and special-collections area, and gallery space.

• Kaneff Tower - Sitting atop the Archives building is the Kaneff Tower, a key addition to York University’s research and administrative space. The Tower is home to senior university officials, including the President, support staff, the Provost and many key research units. The conference floor contains the Board of Governors’ boardroom and other video-equipped conference spaces.

 

The Archives of Ontario/Kaneff Tower building was designed by Bregman and Hamann Architects and built by PCL Constructors Canada.
YUDC was involved in all aspects of the project.

 

YUDC worked with many stakeholders, including the Ontario Realty Corporation, the Archives of Ontario, York University and the Toronto Transit Commission to make this state-of-the-art building a reality. The project was finished on time and under its $100-million budget, and, as a key part of the Toronto Spadina Subway Extension’s planning, the main subway entrance will be steps away from the Archives of Ontario/Kaneff Tower building entrance.

 

The Archives of Ontario/Kaneff Tower building received a LEED silver certification from the Canadian Green Building Council. This rating is given to new buildings that meet stringent LEED criteria for environmentally sustainable building techniques and use building materials that reduce energy consumption and have a positive impact on the surrounding community.

 

Here are just a few of the Archives of Ontario/Kaneff Tower building’s LEED credentials:

 

• 3,385 square metres of reflective roof membrane reduce solar heat gain, an area that exceeds LEED requirements by 19%  

• Low-flow/dual-flush toilets, urinals, faucets and showers result in an annual water saving of 2.2 million litres

• A high-performance building envelope using features such as a reflective roof membrane and high-tech window coatings creates at least 33% in energy savings annually

• 442 tons of waste material from the project were diverted from the landfill – a 98% waste diversion

• Numerous LEED certified professionals were engaged by the design, project management and construction teams

• All carpets, paint and furniture use low-VOC emitting materials, resulting in lower levels of released toxic gases and improved air quality