Harmony Commons Passive House Dormitory

Design team
Integral Group; Jablonsky, Ast & Partners; Steven Winter Associates; The Planning Partnership; WSP; Bousfields; Matteo Gilfillan & Associates; Human Space; PARTISANS

Harmony Commons at the University of Toronto Scarborough is a key part of the campus’s 300-acre expansion, housing 718 first-year students and resident advisors along with the campus’s first full dining hall and offices for student life and campus security. The building is designed to take advantage of its natural surroundings, offering views of a preserved grove of trees and ensuring as many occupied spaces as possible feel a connection to the outside.

As the largest Passive House project in Canada and the world’s largest Passive House residence hall, Harmony Commons reduces energy use by 70% to 80% and enhances indoor air quality and comfort. The building’s design includes a high-performance envelope with vertically patterned aluminum cladding and earthy tones inspired by Scarborough’s geography. Double-story layering reduces its perceived height and it integrates seamlessly into the low-rise neighborhood.

The ground floor has a dining hall, event spaces, and offices; peer resources are situated at the main entrance. Upstairs, dormitory rooms are organized into “communities,” each with private study and gathering spaces and a common kitchen to foster interaction.

Additional Information