Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1408886
76 | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 St. Joseph Morrow Park Catholic Secondary School P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E SY CO R EB U I L D CO N S T RU C T I O N LT D. ST. JOSEPH MORROW PARK CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL by SUSAN PEDERSON T he first thing to greet you out- side of St. Joseph Morrow Park Catholic Secondary School – a uniquely curved two-storey building – is an ancient-looking carving of St. Joseph. This, juxtaposed with a stain- less steel cross, are both powerful reminders of the vision and purpose of this institution. The school is designed for 800 young women, and is run by the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). "There was an important legacy and history that we wanted to tie into the new design," says Frederic Lacombe, associate with ZAS Architects + Interiors Inc. "We did that by relocating statues and carvings that had been an integral part of the old school." Lyn Northey, senior co-ordinator, capital development and sustainability with TCDSB says, "We needed to find a new home for the school when the Convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph, the historical location of the school, was sold. Moving the carving of St. Joseph [which had been in storage for many years] and stone statues was a large undertaking. The carving's weight presented challenges in installing within the front entrance wall." There were other challenges along the way, most notably COVID-19, which halted construction for over a month mid-build. The street address also had to be changed. This came after the original design had to be altered from a three-storey above- grade structure, to a two-storey, which necessitated the construction of an underground parking garage. "The garage allowed the original footprint to stay as is," says Lacombe. "It also allowed the school to give back to the community by providing much welcomed green space." "Having an underground park- ing lot requires a state-of the-art HVAC system, which was designed by WSP," says Alex Karkar, project manager of Corebuild Construction Ltd. "The extensive mechanical air movement system is certainly state-of-the-art and is similar to the HVAC systems installed in new hospital construction." Karkar adds that this type of sys- tem is unusual in traditional school builds, but will serve the facility well, given the uncertainly that COVID-19 has created. The whole build seems designed to allow for social distancing, with its open spaces, and proximity to fresh air, through opening win- dows and a central outdoor courtyard, which is flanked by the majority of public student spaces: cafeteria, gym- nasium, library, and a private chapel. The expansive central, double-height entrance, says Northey "is the heart of the school." The courtyard, with its monumen- tal staircase "gives opportunities for staff and students to be in their microclimate, and they are protected from traffic noise, while still having a strong connection to the outside," says Lacombe. A green roof designed by Ginkgo Sustainability furthers that connec- tion and acts to control stormwater. Maintenance will include removal of debris, invasive species and other weed growth, ensuring that drains are working properly and that the roof is properly irrigated until the plants establish themselves during the first year, after which it should be almost maintenance free. "Due to the upgraded mechanical systems, which include large cool- ing towers, a section of the roof on the second floor is carved out to integrate exterior equipment as to not cause height or esthetic concerns for the neighbourhood," says Lacombe. The academic and administrative block of the school is configured in a L-shape around the central courtyard. Two main entrances flank the glazed administration block, which is dis- tinct from the rest of the white glazed tile ground floor. The top two storeys are faced with a vertical brick pattern. "We used a soft bronze for all the exterior metal panels, against the much darker brick to create contrast and interest, as well as a departure from the usual anodized aluminum windows and curtain wall that are often seen in such buildings," adds Lacombe. The arching shape of the building was developed to dynamically distin- guish the school from other rectilinear public buildings, capitalizing on the high visibility of this corner property. The courtyard footprint was planned to create an equitable bal- ance of hard and soft landscape and good daylight penetration to produce a multi-seasonal outdoor space. This allows the school to program outdoor classes for students, including liturgi- cal events from the adjacent chapel. Now that everyone can breathe a sigh of relief that this build is complete, staff and students are looking forward to the day that students can actually experience the fullness of the well- thought-out and carefully planned 21st century learning experience that their new school has to offer. A LOCATION 3338 Bayview Avenue, North York, Ontario OWNER /DEVELOPER Toronto Catholic District School Board ARCHITECT ZAS Architects + Interiors Inc. GENER AL CONTR ACTOR Corebuild Construction Ltd. STRUCTUR AL /MECHANICAL /ELECTRICAL / CIVIL /L ANDSCAPE CONSULTANT WSP TOTAL SIZE 110,200 square feet TOTAL COST $28.5 million