{"id":881734,"date":"2026-03-16T09:50:55","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:50:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/?p=881734"},"modified":"2026-03-17T13:07:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T17:07:58","slug":"student-success-sustainability-inside-george-brown-polytechnic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/learning\/student-success-sustainability-inside-george-brown-polytechnic\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Success + Sustainability: Inside George Brown Polytechnic"},"content":{"rendered":"

For George Brown Polytechnic, Limberlost Place reflects an ambitious yet practical vision: to create one of Canada\u2019s most sustainable academic buildings while improving how students learn, gather and succeed. The building is home to students in the college\u2019s Architectural Studies program, making it both a place to learn and a living example of sustainable building practices.<\/p>\n

Located on Toronto\u2019s waterfront, the 10-storey mass-timber building brings together academic spaces, student amenities and community services in a compact footprint designed around how students actually learn and spend their time on campus. For George Brown Polytechnic, the project was not simply about adding capacity \u2014 it was about reshaping outcomes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted a building that supports the full student experience, not just what happens during class time,\u201d says Nerys Rau, executive director, facilities and sustainability at George Brown, and the project director for Limberlost Place. \u201cLearning today is collaborative, social and happens everywhere. The space needed to reflect that.\u201d<\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
The 10-storey mass-timber building brings together academic spaces, student amenities and community services designed around how students learn and spend their time on campus.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

Designing for better learning<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rather than organizing the building around corridors and isolated classrooms, Limberlost is structured to support a range of learning modes throughout the day. Classrooms were designed as active learning environments, with layouts that allow instructors and students to shift easily between lecture, discussion and group work.<\/p>\n

Classrooms, studios and labs are positioned along the perimeter to maximize daylight, while informal social and study spaces sit immediately outside them. On each floor, students encounter a mix of settings: open collaboration zones, enclosed booths and quiet study areas. The intent was to support different postures, personalities and learning preferences.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe worked very closely with our partners Moriyama Teshima Architects, Steelcase and their local dealer POI Business Interiors to align furniture solutions with pedagogical goals and ensure flexibility without sacrificing durability or comfort,\u201d explains Rau. Flexibility was critical so the space could evolve with curriculum changes and new teaching methods. Mobile tables<\/a> and seating, digital and analog displays, and integrated technology allow rooms to be reconfigured quickly, supporting multiple teaching modes within a single session.<\/p>\n

Kayley Mullings, senior interior designer at Moriyama Teshima Architects and a part-time instructor at George Brown, says student choice was a driving principle. \u201cThe variety of seating and postures gives students more choice. Some students are more comfortable sitting in lounge seating at the front, while others prefer being farther back. The room can adapt to all of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

She has also observed how behavior shifts when students feel comfortable. \u201cA lot of students gravitate toward the more compressed, lounge\u2011style areas rather than traditional table\u2011and\u2011chair setups,\u201d she says. \u201cThey also really like the booth seating<\/a>. You can see them settling in and staying longer, which tells you the spaces are working for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

That willingness to remain on campus \u2014 to study between classes, collaborate or simply decompress \u2014 is tied directly to student success, says Rau.<\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Access to a range of spaces outside classrooms gives students choice in how they study and keeps them on campus longer. Their willingness to stay is tied directly to student success, says Executive Director Nerys Rau.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

., Executive\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If students feel they belong in a space, they use it more. And when they use it more, the likelihood of stronger academic outcomes increases.<\/p>Nerys Rau, Executive Director, Facilities + Sustainability, George Brown Polytechnic<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n

A building shaped by sustainability<\/strong><\/p>\n

Equally central to the project is its environmental performance. Limberlost Place is designed as a net\u2011zero carbon building, constructed primarily from mass timber \u2014 a renewable material that significantly reduces embodied carbon compared with steel or concrete.<\/p>\n

For George Brown, sustainability was both an operational priority and an educational statement. \u201cWe wanted the building itself to demonstrate our commitment to climate action,\u201d says Rau. \u201cStudents can see and feel the difference. It becomes part of their learning environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sustainability strategy extends well beyond the structure. Interior materials, furnishings and finishes were evaluated through a lifecycle lens, considering sourcing, durability and eventual reuse. The project team viewed furniture and architecture as interdependent. They looked for products designed for longevity, disassembly and material transparency, aligning with the building\u2019s low\u2011carbon objectives.<\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Limberlost Place is designed as a net\u2011zero carbon building, constructed primarily from mass timber. Furniture choices used real veneer, wool and other natural materials to reinforce the health and sustainability goals of the project.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaintaining material authenticity was especially important within a timber building,\u201d explains Mullings. \u201cThat meant focusing on real materials, natural fibers and avoiding finishes that would feel artificial in a mass\u2011timber structure. We didn\u2019t want to use imitation wood in a building surrounded by real timber. Using real veneer, wool and other natural materials reinforces the health and sustainability goals of the project.\u201d<\/p>\n

The building\u2019s environmental strategies extend beyond materials. Limberlost operates in passive natural ventilation mode for roughly half the year, allowing occupants to open windows and rely less on mechanical systems. Early feedback suggests that this has a noticeable effect on comfort. \u201cThe air is much fresher,\u201d says Rau. \u201cPeople find it a very restful environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flexibility as a long\u2011term strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sustainability also informed how the building will perform over time. Adaptable classrooms, movable furnishings and multi\u2011use spaces reduce the need for future renovations, lowering both cost and environmental impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cLongevity is a big part of sustainability,\u201d says Rau. \u201cIf a space can change instead of being torn out and rebuilt, that\u2019s a major environmental benefit.\u201d This future\u2011proofing ensures the building can respond to shifts in enrollment, pedagogy and technology without major structural intervention.<\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Mobile tables and chairs allow classrooms to easily shift from lecture to hands-on group work or discussion.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

An integrated vision<\/strong><\/p>\n

What distinguishes Limberlost Place is the integration of its two core ambitions. The same design decisions that reduce carbon emissions. Natural materials, daylight, flexible planning also create healthier, more engaging environments for students. \u201cIt\u2019s not sustainability for sustainability\u2019s sake,\u201d says Rau. \u201cIt\u2019s about creating a place where students can do their best work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Early feedback suggests the strategy is resonating. Students are using the building throughout the day, occupying collaboration zones, quiet nooks and social spaces in ways that mirror the college\u2019s original vision.<\/p>\n

For Mullings, that lived experience is the ultimate measure of success. \u201cWhen you see students choosing to stay, to study, to connect \u2014 that\u2019s when you know the design is doing what it was meant to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

For students in Architectural Studies, Limberlost functions as both a learning environment and a real-world example of sustainable building practices. The building has already received numerous international design and sustainability awards, but its primary measure of success is day-to-day use. \u201cStudents want to see that the institution is walking the talk on sustainability,\u201d says Rau. \u201cThis building demonstrates that commitment in a very real way.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At a Glance<\/strong>
\nGeorge Brown Polytechnic<\/p>\n

Industry<\/strong>
\nEducation<\/p>\n

Location<\/strong>
\nToronto, Ontario<\/p>\n

Size<\/strong>
\n225,000 square feet<\/p>\n

Design Intent<\/strong>
\nAdvance net-zero carbon and low-embodied-carbon design
\nImprove student engagement and academic outcomes
\nSupport flexible, future-ready learning environments
\nCreate a living lab for architectural studies students<\/p>\n

Key Features<\/strong>
\nFirst building in Toronto to meet Toronto Green Standards Version 3 Tier 4, the highest, voluntary tier of environmental performance for new developments in Toronto, aimed at near-zero emissions.
\n95% of products achieved BIFMA Level\u2013certified
\n89% achieved the highest Level 3 rating
\n97% of products achieved SCS Indoor Quality Certified or Equivalent<\/p>\n

Project Partners<\/strong><\/p>\n

Design Firm<\/strong>
\nMoriyama Teshima Architects with Acton Ostry Architects<\/p>\n

Dealer<\/strong>
\nPOI Business Interiors<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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