Limberlost Place: A Model for Sustainable Community Development

Limberlost Place is a shining example of how community development can be done right. This innovative project in Ontario, Canada, is a 500-acre nature preserve and community hub that showcases sustainable living and community engagement.

The preserve features a variety of ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, and meadows, which provide a habitat for over 200 species of birds, 50 species of mammals, and countless insects.

The community hub at Limberlost Place is designed to be accessible and inclusive, with a range of facilities and activities that cater to people of all ages and abilities.

George Brown College is playing a key role in the development of Limberlost Place. They're continuing their tradition as a community leader in East Bayfront.

The college will use Limberlost Place as a hub for education, research, and innovation. This will be a great resource for the community.

George Brown College is also planning to include a childcare center at Limberlost Place. This will serve the surrounding neighbourhood and provide a valuable service to residents.

The childcare center will be funded in part by a $3.6 million contribution from Waterfront Toronto. This investment will help make the center a reality.

At Limberlost Place, sustainable design is a top priority. The building will achieve net-zero carbon emissions, a remarkable feat that showcases the power of innovative design.

The developers have incorporated solar chimneys to create natural convection, drawing fresh air into the building from operable windows. This clever feature not only saves energy but also improves indoor air quality.

Deep-water cooling is another game-changer at Limberlost Place. Water is pumped from Lake Ontario throughout the building to cool it down, reducing the need for traditional cooling systems.

Rooftop solar panels will generate energy used within the building, further reducing its carbon footprint. This is a great example of how sustainable design can pay for itself in the long run.

By embracing sustainable design, Limberlost Place not only meets but exceeds the Toronto Green Standard's Tier 3 requirements. In fact, it will meet Tier 4, the minimum standard for all new construction in Toronto as of 2030.

The mass-timber movement is revolutionizing the way we build, and Limberlost Place is at the forefront of this innovation. In April 2018, George Brown College announced the winning design for Limberlost Place, which showcased a tall-wood, low-carbon design.

Mass-timber construction uses large dimension solid lumber, glued-laminated lumber, cross-laminated lumber or other large dimension wood products as the primary load-bearing structure for a building. This is a lower carbon option compared to traditional building materials like concrete.

Limberlost Place is pushing the boundaries of what's possible for mass-timber buildings, exceeding the 6-storey mark and standing at 10 storeys tall, making it both a mass-timber and tall-wood building.

The use of mass-timber materials locks in sequestered carbon, captured by trees from the atmosphere, which helps reduce the overall carbon emissions of Limberlost Place's construction and building materials, known as embodied carbon.

East Bayfront is a waterfront neighborhood that offers a unique blend of living, working, playing, and studying within walking distance from Toronto's downtown core.

The neighborhood is close to the Parliament Slip, which has the potential to become one of Toronto's next great waterfront destinations.

East Bayfront is home to Limberlost Place, a hub for education, research, and innovation that will serve the surrounding community.

Limberlost Place will feature a childcare center, made possible by a $3.6 million contribution from Waterfront Toronto.

This childcare center will provide a valuable resource for families in the area, supporting their needs and enhancing the overall quality of life in East Bayfront.