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MaRS Centre, Toronto Medical Discovery Tower

2005 , Toronto, Ontario
Architect: Adamson Associates Architects
Client: MaRS Discovery District
Categories: Institutional
About project
About project

With 400,000 square feet of state-of-the-art wet labs, the 15-storey Toronto Medical Discovery Tower accommodates leading-edge scientific equipment and houses the basic research activities of two of Canada's premiere research hospitals: the University Health Network and the Hospital for Sick Children.

Situated on the corner of College and Elizabeth Street, the building was designed with typical research and development lab floors configured with a side core arrangement and sheathed in metal and glass. The tower portions rest on a three-storey limestone podium that aligns with the heights of the adjoining College Wing and the formal landscape forecourt that extends the full block.

The shell and core of the building was designed to accommodate a full lab program based on 80% wet labs and 20% dry labs. The lab floors have been configured to maximise future flexibility. The mechanical and electrical rooms, power and communication distribution systems, general and special exhaust risers, floor drains and service zones were configured to allow for the fit-out by future tenants.

Location: Toronto, Ontario
Architect: Adamson Associates Architects
Client: MaRS Discovery District
Size: 400,000 sf / 37,150 sm
Program:
Office High-Rise icon
Office High-Rise
Research Facilities icon
Research Facilities
Wet and Dry Labs icon
Wet and Dry Labs
Auditorium icon
Auditorium
Seminar Rooms icon
Seminar Rooms
Fitness Centre icon
Fitness Centre
Completion: 2005

Awards

2010

Ontario Association of Architects’ Design Excellence Award

2009

Canadian Urban Institute Urban Leadership Award

2006

Heritage Toronto Award of Excellence for Architectural Conservation and Craftsmanship

2006

Intelligent Community Forum: Intelligent Building of the Year