A proposal submitted to the City of Toronto in the final days of 2019 seeks Site Plan Approval for a new educational building at York University's Keele Campus. The proposed Neuroscience Laboratory and Research Building is planned to rise from a narrow strip of land between the Sherman Health Science Research Centre and York U Alumni Field, near the northwest corner of North West Gate and Ian MacDonald Boulevard, and steps from Pioneer Village subway station.

Site of the proposal, image via submission to City of Toronto

Designed by HDR Architects, the proposed two-storey, 11.3 metre-tall institutional building would have a gross floor area of 4,963 m² in the form of research spaces, including wet laboratories, kinesiology and neuropsychology laboratories, and research offices. A 1,485 m² green roof would minimize the building's contribution to the urban heat island effect.

Aerial view looking northwest to new York U lab, image via submission to City of Toronto

The project's minimalist design calls for a limited list of exterior finishes that would result in a clean, simple exterior. These include curtainwall glazing with some glass treated with varieties of bird-friendly frit pattern, and some sections with sun shading, while pre-finished metal panels in two tones, metal louvers, and composite concrete panels would also mark the exterior.

Looking south to new York U lab, image via submission to City of Toronto

Students and faculty would have access to the new lab via a direct indoor connection with the existing building to the south via a lower-level corridor. Pedestrian pathways connect the building to the surrounding campus and the subway station.

Looking northwest to new York U lab, image via submission to City of Toronto

The project is to be fast-tracked to construction through the City’s Gold Star program which serves to expedite the planning process for industrial, commercial office, and institutional projects by assigning an Economic Development Officer as part of the City Planning or Toronto Building case-managed team, who works through the planning process with developers. With the fast-tracking, planning firm Bousfields is targeting September for the project to be granted notice of approval conditions (NOAC) and intends to obtain full building permits by the end of 2020.

Looking southwest to new York U lab, image via submission to City of Toronto

You can learn more from our Database file for the project, linked below. If you'd like to, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

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