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The Humber Cultural Hub has been honoured with a 2025-2026 ASHRAE Region II Technology Award, earning First Place in the Educational Facilities, New Building category for outstanding achievement in energy efficiency, innovation, and building performance.
Located at Humber College's Lakeshore Campus in Etobicoke, the Humber Cultural Hub brings together academic, performance, and residential spaces within a highly sustainable campus landmark. Phase 1 of the project, which opened in 2024, includes classrooms, music labs, performance spaces, a student residence, gymnasium, and cafeteria.
At the centre of the award-winning design is a 100% ground-source geothermal heating and cooling system. The system includes 95 boreholes drilled approximately 830 feet deep beneath the building footprint, creating a geothermal field that acts as a thermal battery by capturing, storing, and reusing the building's own energy. Combined with advanced heat recovery systems and a 172 kW rooftop photovoltaic array, the design significantly reduces energy consumption while eliminating the need for fossil fuels for building heating.
The Humber Cultural Hub was designed to perform 35% better than the ASHRAE 90.1-2010 baseline and achieved Zero Carbon Building certification in 2024. The project also supports LEED Platinum certification and demonstrates how integrated design can deliver exceptional energy performance while meeting the diverse needs of a modern educational and residential facility.
Congratulations to the entire team on this outstanding achievement and well-deserved recognition.