Moriyama Teshima Architects has officially opened the new Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) Headquarters and Multi-Tenant Commercial Building, overlooking the Don Valley ravine.
This 127,000-square-foot, three-storey mass timber facility serves as a hub supporting public education in Ontario, providing a healthy workplace environment and meeting the organization’s financial resiliency goals. The OSSTF represents educators, educational assistants, and other education professionals in the secondary school system.
“The central atrium is the building’s key design feature, connecting everyone to each other and nature, creating a healthier working environment,” said Carol Phillips, Partner at Moriyama Teshima Architects. The building features cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor slabs and glue-laminated timber (GLT) beams and columns, sourced nationally where possible. Its design prioritizes natural light, openness, and interaction between OSSTF staff and tenants, with shareable spaces including the lobby, cafรฉ, ground floor terrace, and a multipurpose event space that can be used by external groups as well.
The building incorporates various sustainable features to reduce its environmental footprint. These include a rainwater harvesting system for toilet flushing and irrigation, a green roof, rooftop solar PV panels, and automated daylight dimming controls. Additionally, the building utilizes a fresh air strategy and geothermal heating system, contributing to significant energy savings. Large overhangs reduce solar heat gain and control glare, while the restoration and stabilization of the Don Valley ravine edge through naturalization and water balance procedures further enhance the project’s eco-friendly credentials.
All design decisions focused on long-term value, employee health and wellness, and operational savings.
Image courtesy: canadianarchitect.com