The Academic Wood Tower at the University of Toronto’s St George campus continues to rise on its way to being Canada’s tallest academic timber structure. Designed by Patkau Architects, MacLennan and Jaunkalns Miller Architects, the 14-storey tower is a fusion of mass timber and structural steel, looking to set a precedent for future high-rise wood construction in North America. Located at 110 Devonshire Place, just south of Bloor Street, the building will provide facilities for the Rotman School of Management, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, and the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education. 

Looking northwest to U of T: Academic Wood Tower, designed by Patkau Architects and MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects (MJMA) for the University of Toronto

UrbanToronto last covered the project in June 2024, when its rise was just beginning. Now, several months later, the tower has risen further, becoming an increasingly prominent feature across from Varsity Stadium.

Looking southwest to U of T's Academic Wood Tower, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor rdaner

Located immediately south of the heritage Dominion Meteorological Building at 315 Bloor Street West, now housing the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, the Academic Wood Tower, has been growing taller behind it, now able to be seen from the north side of Bloor Street as per the image below in November, 2024. The fourth floor's diagonal mass timber transfer beams are partially wrapped in green protective material, with timber columns above on the fifth floor, overlooked by the crane. Once complete, the fully glazed north facade will expose the timber stretucture.

Looking southeast from Bloor Street to the structure emerging behind the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor ImmenselyMental

In December, thick diagonal mass timber beams on the fourth floor angle southward on the east elevation. On the fifth floor, the pattern reverses with a smaller timber beam visible for the shorter floor. The crane, with a wooden base, rises high above at the northeast corner. Orange tarps enclose the first three floors to make work going on behind them more comfortable in cold months. In the right background, the Woodsworth College Residence provides a sense of scale.

Looking southwest to the tower crane installed at the northwest corner, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor ProjectEnd

With construction reaching the seventh floor this month, the Academic Wood Tower continues to take shape. The number of floors protected from the wind has increased with four more sporting dark tarps. The eighth floor is now formed. To the south of a steel-framed staircase, the cantilevered section of the building is now under construction above the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.

Looking northwest to a wooden overhang above the Goldring Centre, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor ImmenselyMental

Upon completion, the Academic Wood Tower will stand 77m tall, as a potential case study in mass timber design for future applications in high-rise sustainable architecture.

UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you'd like, 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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