The Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre is designed to foster collaboration between the University of Toronto’s world-class technology research programs, various startups, and established corporate partners.
Facade geometries are informed by existing contextual datums and frame new connections to Queen’s Park via University Avenue. The building’s diaphanous primary envelope system shelters flexible offices, labs, classrooms, conference rooms, and event spaces at multiple scales. Inset from the primary envelope are all-glass facades which begin at street level and ascend the building, culminating in skylights. These facades provide access to outdoor terraces, allow natural light to permeate internal atria, and organize the building’s spaces as a vertical campus. Their maximized transparency and minimized structure dematerializes boundaries between interior winter gardens and the surrounding cityscape.
Significant material research was conducted to select transparent glazing and luminous, bright cladding materials which make manifest the University’s vision for the architecture to serve as a bright beacon for discovery and open environment for exploration.
Heintges is providing building envelope consulting services during ongoing design and construction
phases.




