T3 Bayside will be the first office building in Toronto’s Bayside community. Beyond that, it will also be the tallest timber office building in North America at 10 stories and 138 feet tall.
Designed by Danish architecture firm 3XN, T3 Bayside will create an activated ground level with retail opportunities available on all sides. A central plaza at the base of the building will be surrounded by an additional stepped community and shared spaces, including exhibition and gallery spaces, flexible office space, and coworking facilities. The goal is for the plaza to act as a new urban gateway and focal point for the surrounding neighborhood. The building’s event and community spaces face the plaza on multiple levels and can be booked individually or together for a variety of events throughout the year.
See Also: $50 million industrial-focused business park under construction in Las Vegas
Timber will define the interior aesthetics of T3 Bayside as well as the exterior of the building. The building material (CLT) and the shape of the wooden frame will ensure quality acoustics and, because wood is a breathable and absorbent material that allows the release of moisture, will also ensure a naturally regulated and healthy indoor environment.
“The wooden structure will be a prominent part of the design and provide a warm tactile environment for the tenants that doesn’t compromise sustainability,” said Jens Holm, Partner in charge of 3XN North America and Head of Design for the T3 project, in a release. “The flexible layout will be able to meet the diverse needs of the users and bring people together.”
The shared office spaces will each hold the potential to combine single-height zones with more social, double-height zones that are designed to accommodate a variety of programs. The offices can be directly connected to the lobby and will help to activate the central plaza.
Related Stories
| Jul 24, 2014
MIT researchers explore how to make wood composite-like blocks of bamboo
The concept behind the research is to slice the stalk of bamboo grass into smaller pieces to bond together and form sturdy blocks, much like conventional wood composites.
| Jul 14, 2014
Meet the bamboo-tent hotel that can grow
Beijing-based design cooperative Penda designed a bamboo hotel that can easily expand vertically or horizontally.
| Jul 9, 2014
Demolition danger: Traditional Japanese architecture under threat in Tokyo district
Residents are trying to block developers from destroying historic architecture in Tokyo's Yanaka district, where a remarkable number of traditional buildings survived the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and World War II.
| May 29, 2014
Wood advocacy groups release 'lessons learned' report on tall wood buildings
The wood-industry advocacy group reThink Wood has released "Summary Report: Survey of International Tall Wood Buildings," with informatino from 10 mid-rise projects in Europe, Australia, and Canada.
| May 28, 2014
Must see: Check out this one-of-a-kind lobby covered with 2,150 pieces of reclaimed wood
The recently opened NewActon Nishi apartment complex in Canberra, Australia, features one of the more unique lobby spaces you'll see, with thousands of pieces of repurposed timber suspended from the walls and ceiling.
| May 2, 2014
Norwegian modular project set to be world's tallest timber-frame apartment building [slideshow]
A 14-story luxury apartment block in central Bergen, Norway, will be the world's tallest timber-framed multifamily project, at 49 meters (160 feet).
| Mar 20, 2014
13 dazzling wood building designs [slideshow]
From bold structural glulam designs to striking textured wall and ceiling schemes, these award-winning building projects showcase the design possibilities using wood.
| Mar 19, 2014
Green Building Initiative Invited to White House Rural Council Event to Support Growth of Green Building, Jobs, and Rural Communities
Green Building Initiative (GBI) Vice President for National Affairs Erin Schaffer is participated in an event at the U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters on Tuesday, March 18th, designed to highlight the Obama Administration’s commitment to promoting building construction projects that use green materials, while also supporting jobs in rural communities.
| Sep 9, 2013
BUILDINGChicago eShow Daily – Day 1 coverage
The first annual BUILDINGChicago/Greening the Heartland conference and expo kicked off this morning at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza. The BD+C editorial team is here en masse to bring you this real-time report from the show. Here’s is our recap of the education sessions from Day 1.
| Jun 19, 2013
Florida is latest battleground over LEED standards centered on certified wood
A nationwide battle over forest certification standards continues to be played out nationally and in Florida with legislation passed this month.
