Heritage Reframed

University building renovation and extension

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    Project update February 2019 – Heritage reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, Canada

    The historic Knox Building is now integrated into the new structure. The site posed a special challenge for meaningful heritage preservation that acknowledges the cultural memory of the university. Image: Courtesy John Horner.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Heritage Reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, ON, Canada

    The complete DFALD restores the architecture, landscape and urban design within the round of Spadina Crescent. The east façade and green space frame a plaza oriented towards the University of Toronto campus. The silhouette of the building reflects the strategies of daylighting, structure and ventilation. The site’s hydrology is evident in the roof profile, shaped to guide water into pools, bio-swales and ultimately to cisterns for irrigation.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Heritage Reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Spadina Crescent is one of three significant public spaces on campus that break from the city grid.

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    Project update February 2019 – Heritage reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, Canada

    The new north elevation. Image: Courtesy John Horner.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Heritage Reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, ON, Canada

    The new wing engages its counterpart through a tripartite section of renovated office space, flexible auditorium and new design studios/workshops. These zones are linked by circulation, seating and aperture elements that intensify the building’s use and expand its influence into the landscape. Using the logic of the Firth of Forth Bridge, the new roof is shaped to create opportunities for stormwater collection, stack ventilation, radiant cooling and daylighting of the large studio floor plate.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Heritage Reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, ON, Canada

    The “street” links campus to the neighborhoods, punctuated by a café and other public programs.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Heritage Reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Extensions into the landscape connect the building and a circumferential walk around the circle.

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    Project update February 2019 – Heritage reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, Canada

    Stairway-seating leads to the upper grad studio in the new building. Image: Courtesy John Horner.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Heritage Reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, ON, Canada

    New program elements plug into the existing U-shaped wing, optimizing flexibility and adaptability.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Heritage Reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Inter-disciplinary learning is aided by access and views among classrooms, studios and event spaces.

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    Project update February 2019 – Heritage reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, Canada

    The graduate studio. Image: Courtesy John Horner.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Heritage Reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, ON, Canada

    High open space and abundant natural light support the collaborative studio culture.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Heritage Reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Design strategies maximize fresh air ventilation, effective day lighting and stormwater harvesting.

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    Project update February 2019 – Heritage reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, Canada

    The historic areas are all treated sparely, but boldly reveal the original surfaces and clearly delineate contemporary interventions. Image: Courtesy John Horner.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Heritage Reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, ON, Canada

    The envelope maintains optimal 40% of glazed and solid walls with 2 low-e coatings on all windows.

  • Awards Acknowledgement prize 2014–2015 North America

The renovation and extension project the Daniels Building at One Spadina Crescent opened in November 2017. The new home for the John H Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design is on the site of a culturally significant nineteenth century structure. The project rehabilitates existing urban, landscape, and architectural elements – and demonstrates the University of Toronto’s aim to foreground sustainability as part of its pedagogic program.

Last updated: April 01, 2020

By Katherine Faulkner - NADAAA, Boston, MA, USA; Nader Tehrani - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA and

Ideas: Urban Requalification, Circular Design

The renovation and extension project the Daniels Building at One Spadina Crescent opened in November 2017. The new home for the John H Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design is on the site of a culturally significant nineteenth century structure.

The project rehabilitates existing urban, landscape, and architectural elements – and demonstrates the University of Toronto’s aim to foreground sustainability as part of its pedagogic program.

Heritage Reframed

Project authors

  • Holcim Awards North America ceremony, Toronto, Canada
    Katherine Faulkner

    NADAAA

    USA

  • Nader Tehrani

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

    USA
  • DR
    David Rulff

    MMM Group

    Canada

  • Andrew Pruss

    ERA architects

    Canada

  • TC
    Tas Candaras

    A.M. Candaras

    Canada

  • Claudina Sula

    Adamson Associates Architects

    Canada

  • JB
    Jim Broomfield

    Eastern construction company

    Canada

  • Shaili Pytel

    Mulvey & Banani International

    Canada

  • Phil Bastow

    The Mitchel Partnership

  • Barry Charnish

    Entuitive Corporation

  • Erik Olsen

    Transsolar

    USA

  • Marc Ryan

    Public Work

    Canada

Project updates

July 08, 2025 | University Buildings | Zürich, Switzerland

Five Essentials for a Sustainable Campus

University campuses have long been spaces of experimentation and progress — incubators for ideas, innovation, and leadership. But today, their role is expanding. As sustainability challenges intensify — spanning climate resilience, resource use, social equity, and economic viability — the design of university buildings is becoming a powerful tool for modelling a more just, regenerative, and inclusive future.
Read full article
February 21, 2019 | Project Update | Toronto, Canada

A showcase for Toronto and sustainable urbanization

Project update February 2019 – Heritage reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, Canada

The LafargeHolcim Awards Acknowledgement-prize winning Daniels Building at One Spadina Crescent houses the John H Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, & Design. The project is exemplary for embedding sustainability into the teaching, learning and research programs of the University of Toronto. The renovation and extension of the 1875 Gothic Revival building was designed by Nader Tehrani and Katherine Faulkner, of NADAAA in collaboration with Architect-of-record Adamson & Associates, landscape architects Public Work, and heritage architects ERA. The Daniels Building at One Spadina Crescent officially opened on November 17, 2017.

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March 19, 2016 | Project Update | Toronto, Canada

Beyond the frame: One Spadina begins to take shape

Project update March 2016 – Heritage reframed: University building renovation and …

Designed by Nader Tehrani and Katie Faulkner of NADAAA, the complex focuses on openness to the surrounding neighbourhood, sustainable urban design, and preservation of the historic building's heritage.

The project creates a forward-thinking vision for the Daniels Faculty, one of the leading schools of architecture, landscape and design in North America. Watch a 10-minute video placing the project in the context of the work of the university by clicking on the image (left, below).

The John H Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design project involves the renovation and expansion to the University’s facility at One Spadina Crescent. Construction work has been divided into two phases.

VIDEO: Daniels Faculty, University of Toronto

The first phase included renovation of the south-facing Gothic Revival building. The second phase is currently under way and includes excavation and shoring activities, as well as construction of a 9,300 square meter new building that will house a new library, art gallery, and design studios for the architecture school.

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June 29, 2015 | Project Feature | Toronto, Canada

Establishing a dialog between the past and the present

Project entry 2014 North America – Heritage Reframed: University building renovation and …

The proposed building provides a new home for the John H Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design on the site of a culturally significant nineteenth century structure in the center of Toronto.

The project’s basic objectives are twofold: to rehabilitate existing urban, landscape, and architectural elements through reuse and complementary additions – and, to demonstrate the university’s aim to foreground sustainability as part of its pedagogic program through the use of state-of-the-art construction materials and energy systems. The envelope of the historic structure is upgraded to increase thermal resistance, while the new addition combines a range of measures to demonstrate responsible resource consumption, with design strategies maximizing fresh air ventilation, effective day lighting, and storm water harvesting.

Read project feature in 4th Holcim Awards 2014/2015 (flip-book)

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January 05, 2015 | Project Update | Toronto, ON, Canada

Restoration and Gothic Revival

Project update January 2015 – Heritage Reframed, Toronto, Canada

The John H Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design project involves the renovation and expansion to the University’s facility at One Spadina Crescent. Construction work has been divided into two phases. The first phase includes renovation of the south-facing Gothic Revival building plus the construction of a 9,300 square meter new building that will house a new library, art gallery, and design studios for the architecture school.

Read full article
September 19, 2014 | Video – Project Author | Toronto, ON, Canada

“Sustainability? Demonstrating how building systems work” – Katherine Faulkner

“Heritage Reframed: University building renovation and extension” is enmeshed as a teaching tool for the Daniels Faculty of Architecture. The project by NADAA won a Holcim Awards Acknowledgement creates a dialog between the past and the present.

Watch video

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September 18, 2014 | Holcim Foundation Awards | Toronto, Canada

Sustainable construction awards showcase resource efficiency and innovation

Holcim Awards North America ceremony, Toronto, Canada

The winning projects of the Holcim Awards 2014 for North America are at the cutting edge of efficiency and innovation in sustainable construction. The top prize went to a water supply and flood mitigation project in Las Vegas designed by Amy Mielke and Caitlin Taylor. BIG’s urban flood-protection concept for lower Manhattan was conferred the silver Award, and a zero-carbon compostable structure recently on display at MoMA New York designed by David Benjamin received bronze.

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September 18, 2014 | Video – Project Overview | Toronto, ON, Canada

Holcim Awards Acknowledgement prizes 2014 for North America

Acknowledgement prizes were presented to Sheila Kennedy and J Frano Violich of Kennedy & Violich Architecture of Boston for the Chrysanthemum Building; architects Nader Tehrani and Katherine Faulkner of NADAAA in Boston for the renovation and extension of the University of Toronto’s John H Daniels building; a public park and interactive wall for urban revival in Seattle by Paris-based ABF-lab architects; and to Peter and Hadley Arnold of the Arid Lands Institute, Woodbury University for Divining LA, a digital tool for urban design and water-use planning in Los Angeles.

Watch video of all 4 Acknowledgement prize winners

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June 30, 2014 | Regional Jury Report – North America | Cambridge, MA, USA

“A rare approach towards bringing a heritage building back to life” – Holcim Awards Jury

Project entry 2014 North America – Heritage Reframed: University building renovation and extension, Toronto, ON, Canada

This project was applauded for its rare approach towards bringing a heritage building back to life through new construction, one respectful of the existing structure, while introducing new spatial qualities to the entire ensemble. Here, a dialog is established between the past and the present, for an educational facility directed toward the future – a dialog most clearly expressed in the sequence of spaces at the intersection of the “new” and the “old”. Additionally, the jury greatly respects the efforts undertaken to integrate environmental principles in the development of the design, without falling into the pitfalls and clichés of “sustainability”. On the contrary, new standards for architecture are confidently brought to the fore.

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March 31, 2014 | Project Entry & Details | Toronto, ON, Canada

Project Entry 2014 for North America

Project entry 2014 North America – Heritage Reframed: University building renovation and …

The proposed building provides a new home for the John H Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design (DFALD) on the site of a culturally significant nineteenth century structure in the center of Toronto, ON, Canada. The project’s basic objectives are twofold: to rehabilitate existing urban, landscape, and architectural elements through reuse and complementary additions – and, to demonstrate the university’s aim to foreground sustainability as part of its pedagogic program through the use of state-of-the-art construction materials and energy systems. 

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Related information

Links and downloads:

Location

pin Toronto, Canada

Toronto, Canada

Videos

Holcim Awards Acknowledgement prizes 2014 for North America

Holcim Awards Acknowledgement prizes 2014 for North America

“Sustainability? Demonstrating how building systems work” – Katherine Faulkner

“Sustainability? Demonstrating how building systems work” – Katherine Faulkner

Video animation – Heritage Reframed

Video animation – Heritage Reframed