Goldring Centre breaks architectural conventions

Gazing up Devonshire Place from Hoskin Avenue on the University of Toronto's downtown campus, it’s clear that a lot is happening at the site for the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport. Over the last couple of weeks in particular, the construction crew has reached several architectural and engineering milestones.

Enormous trusses that clear a span of over 55 metres and will support the weight of the three above-ground floors have been installed in the lower level. These gigantic ties bear the weight of what architects and engineers call “dead” and “live” loads – from thousands of pounds of research equipment to all of the building’s occupants, furniture, rain and snow. “This type of steel structure is actually most similar to a bridge,” says Aaron Letki, of MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects. “Individual pieces were assembled into trusses to allow them to span much longer distances than a simple beam would permit. It is unusual to see this type of structure in a building.”

Conventionally-designed buildings are supported by interior walls or columns. But since the Golding Centre field house’s expansive ceilings cannot have these types intrusions, the floors must be supported by these exceptionally strong beams.

Hoisting these superstructures has proven a feat in its own right. Only July 26, neighbourhood early-risers would have awakened to see a mammoth 550-tonne crane creeping down Bloor St. before sunrise for temporary work on the site. The machine is the largest mobile crane in Ontario and travels around the province to heave loads associated with all kinds of major infrastructure projects.

The next milestone is slated for early September, when the entire steel skeleton of the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport will be in place and the outline of the building will complete.

Watch the progress via live video stream, or visit the photo gallery of construction updates.