Toronto Metropolitan University, Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex (DCHSC)

Recognized for sustainable design excellence, Toronto Metropolitan University’s Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex (DCHSC) in Toronto was honored by American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment’s 25th annual COTE® Top Ten Awards. This 28-story vertical campus also earned LEED® Gold certification through the Canada Green Building Council.

Perkins&Will designed the DCHSC as an educational community encompassing nearly 300,000 square feet of highly sustainable teaching, research and 332-bed living space. Rockfon's ceiling materials were evaluated for aesthetic, performance and environmental attributes contributing to DCHSC’s design and operations, the occupants’ indoor health, comfort and well-being, and the students’ educational experience.

According to the design team, more than 250 potential products were rigorously screened and more than 75 percent of materials were assessed as being “completely healthy and transparent over their lifecycle – free of hazardous substances and with full documentation of ingredients.”

Assisting with material ingredient and product evaluations, Rockfon offers such documentation as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Health Product Declarations (HPDs) and Declare Labels. Low-emitting products are recognized by LEED and other green building programs as contributing to healthy indoor air quality. All of Rockfon’s stone wool products also have been tested and UL® GREENGUARD® Gold Certified for Office and Educational Environments.

Rockfon acoustic stone wool ceiling panels were specified and installed throughout DCHSC’s first nine floors.

DCHSC at Toronto Metropolitan University centralizes four academic departments in one building: the schools of nursing, midwifery, nutrition, and occupational and public health. Reflecting the values and lessons of these wellness-focused programs, “creating connections for a healthy city” was the vision statement that helped motivate and nurture the building’s conceptual and physical development.

“From the Creative Technology Lab to the state-of-the-art nursing suites, the Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex is an outstanding addition to our campus. It provides much needed learning and research space for our students and faculty to make a sustainable, positive impact on our community," said Dr. Mohamed Lachemi, president and vice-chancellor, Toronto Metropolitan University.

Totaling approximately 100,000 square feet, three types of Rockfon ceiling panels and two types of suspension systems were selected to meet different goals with Toronto Metropolitan University's DCHSC. Rockfon Sonar®, Rockfon Tropic® and Rockfon® Medical™ Standard ceiling panels were installed in Chicago Metallic® 1200 Seismic 15/16-inch and Chicago Metallic® 4500 Ultraline™ 9/16-inch exposed grid ceiling suspension systems. Metric dimensions were confirmed with Rockfon to facilitate planning and installation.

Contributing to air quality and cleanliness, Rockfon stone wool ceiling panels naturally resist moisture, mold and mildew without added fungicides. This helps create and maintain a hygienic environment for the DCHSC’s long-term operation and health care application. Rockfon Medical Standard products also do not contribute to the growth of MRSA. They have been tested to meet microbiological class M1 fulfilling the requirements of Zone 4 (very high risk) and comply with ISO Class 5 clean room standards.

Used throughout the DCHSC’s first nine floors. Rockfon Sonar delivers exceptional sound absorption, achieving a noise reduction coefficient of up to 0.95 NRC. Rockfon Medical Standard and Tropic also provide high acoustic performance with, respectively, 0.90 and 0.85 NRCs.

As the amount of sound absorption increases inside a room, the reverberation time and noise level decrease. This improves speech intelligibility, allowing students to better understand their professors, peers, and at DCHSC, their future patients. In addition to specialty classrooms, ceiling systems with a high NRC optimize acoustics for multi-purpose spaces.

The white surface of Rockfon’s stone wool panels selected for the DCHSC’s ceilings reflects up to 86 percent of light. Along with maximizing natural and electrical light sources, the diffused lighting supports occupants’ health and wellness by reducing the potential for eye strain due to glare on screens and monitors.

Overall, the building also incorporated 33.78 percent recycled material content. Rockfon’s ceiling systems are manufactured with recycled content. At the end of their long lifecycle in the ceiling, the metal can be 100 percent locally recycled.

Perkins&Will designed the DCHSC for a 100-year lifespan with anticipated adaptations and renovations. As technology changes, or repairs are needed to HVAC and lighting, Rockfon’s ceiling system allows for easy access to the plenum.