Harmony Commons, a dormitory building at the University of Toronto Scarborough, is the largest passive house building in Canada and the largest dormitory building in the world to receive that recognition.

Completed in 2023, it recently received designation as a Passive House building, recognised by the Passivhaus Institut in Darmstadt, Germany, a certification that means it meets certain energy use standards. Handel Architects recently completed the “world’s largest Passive House office” in Boston, Massachusetts.

Located in the northern area of the campus, the building is composed of three volumes organized in a U-shape, with a raised, central courtyard in the centre. It accommodates 746 first year students and contains a dining hall and offices.

The team used a variety of strategies, including a “high-performance envelope, low-energy systems, and heat recovery from ventilation exhaust and wastewater”, de zeen reported. It also runs on all-electric and was outfitted with windows sized to maximize natural light, while reducing heat loss. Compared to another dormitory building on the campus built in 2003, Harmony Commons “uses close to 70% less energy in peak heating conditions”, says Handel Architects.

“Taking advantage of the natural surroundings, the building has been sited and shaped so that as many occupied spaces as possible feel a connection to the outside,” said Handel Architects, which is headquartered in New York.

“A preserved, historic grove of trees to the north becomes a focal point for many of the units, common rooms, and the large dining hall at ground level.”

Over eight months, the building also uses energy more consistently, which is an important factor in reducing overall cost and exertion on an electricity grid. “What’s astonishing is how consistent the energy use is from month-to-month,” said the team.

“This is an important note because designing buildings to have demand curves that are consistent is critical to building out a renewable grid.”

Cover image: Fengate Asset Management photo, in de zeen magazine