The front facade of Centennial College’s new A-Building. Photos courtesy Riley Snelling.
The building at night.
The aerial view of the building and its landscaped surrounds.
The detail on the facade of the building.
A hybrid timber staircase.
An interior hallway.
A computer lab.
A common area inside the building.
A classroom in a circular layout.
A room for smudging ceremony.
NationTalk: Construction Canada – Centennial College’s new A-Building in Toronto’s Progress campus, completed at approximately $112 million, highlights Indigenous connections through collaboration with an Indigenous Working Group, Colliers Project Leaders, EllisDon Construction, DIALOG, and Smoke Architecture.
The six-storey expansion, totalling more than 12,077 m2 (130,000 sf), was accompanied by a 1,394-m2 (15,000-sf) renovation. It now stands as a beacon of hope and a force for good, embodying the college’s commitment to environmental stewardship, Indigeneity, and inclusivity. The building is guided by the Indigenous concept of “two-eyed seeing”—blending Indigenous and Western knowledge.
At the heart of A-Building are Indigenous ways of being and teaching. It houses administrative offices, collaborative areas, food services, and space for the School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science. The design includes an outdoor classroom, especially one suited for teaching in a circular fashion, and rooms equipped with exhaust fans for the Indigenous ceremony of smudging.
The building’s construction reflects Treaty relationships and Indigenous values, with features such as the Covenant Chain and the Beaver Bowl/Dish, with One Spoon incorporated into its design.
Seán Kinsella, director of the Eighth Fire at Centennial College, noted that this building provides a place for Indigenous students, staff, and faculty to gather and practice traditions, while educating people from around the world about Indigenous worldviews, ceremonies, and teachings.
“Narratives Embedded throughout inspire curiosity, a focus for long-term knowledge sharing,” says Eladia Smoke, principal of Smoke Architecture. “This is a heart building, a place of becoming, where we acknowledge that our intentions have often been obscured, but will come into focus when we walk true to our ode’ (heart). The design represents a commitment to uphold our responsibilities to each other and to the life systems that support us and express a sense of wonder for ndinawe maaganidog | all our relations.”
The project’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation was embedded in every aspect of its process, with Chief R. Stacey Laforme’s book, “Living in the Tall Grass: Poems of Reconciliation,” serving as a touchstone for understanding and inspiration.
Black Spruce from Chibougamau, Quebec, plays a significant role in the mass timber structure of the A-Building—with generous wood exposures showcased through its cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated (GLT) columns, beams, and floor slabs throughout—aligning with Indigenous ideals of sustainability and harmony with nature.
The A-Building has achieved zero carbon certification for its highly efficient building envelope, along with an all-electric domestic hot water heating and HVAC systems. A solar photovoltaic (PV) panel array on the roof will generate enough electricity to offset the facility’s electricity use by 68,000 kW hours annually, which will contribute to its LEED gold certification. Floor-to-ceiling windows that let natural light into the space will also support its WELL silver certification.
“We are so excited to see Centennial College’s A-Building expansion be completed,” says Craig Applegath, partner and architect at DIALOG. “It’s a source of immense pride that this project stands as the nation’s pathfinding zero carbon higher-educational facility, underscoring DIALOG’s unwavering commitment to achieving and exceeding sustainability benchmarks across our work. We want to thank Centennial College for being great partners and for ensuring both Indigenous principles and environmental justice were at the forefront of this design.”
Indigenous community members participated in ceremonies to bring the A-Building to life, emphasizing Treaty relationships and the Prophecy of the Eighth Fire. An opening event on September 21 will further mark this milestone.