Sustainability is a guiding principle for how we function day-to-day, and how we build and grow for the future. Proof of York University’s commitment to a more sustainable future can be found in the Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building. Opened in 2019 as part of the Schulich School of Business (SSB), it will be home to interdisciplinary research in fields ranging from business ethics and big data to global enterprise and real estate and infrastructure. 

“A building makes a statement and architecture communicates that statement very, very loudly and clearly,” said Rob McEwen at the building’s official opening. “Here we are in a building that’s at the front door of York University. So, what is it saying? It’s saying that this school is innovative, it’s imaginative, it is responsible to the environment. It is showing the future.” 

The Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building has received LEED Gold certification, one of the highest standards of sustainability for a building. It is one of the first buildings in Canada to use the principles of thermally active building systems, centred around a dramatic glass solar chimney that stands 27 metres in height and provides passive natural ventilation for the entire facility. For almost half of the time it is occupied, the solar chimney will be the main source of ventilation. The 67,000-square-foot building gained immediate attention for its striking design and innovative features. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the global building industry’s premier benchmark for sustainable design. 

The building also has more than 200 automated, computer-controlled and operable exterior windows to provide natural ventilation. It contains more than 20 km of radiant heating and cooling pipe embedded in its concrete structure to create what is called an active slab system, the most energy-efficient method to mechanically heat and cool a building. To further minimize its energy footprint, the building has many daylit interior spaces and extensive green roofs. All exterior glazing is made up of triple-glazed Low-E glass and has bird-friendly exterior markers. 

“As a Certified LEED Gold Building, the Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building embodies the commitment of the Schulich School of Business to be a recognized international leader in environmental sustainability in all its endeavours,” said James McKellar, associate dean of external relations and professor of real estate and infrastructure.   

The Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building has been recognized by the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) with the 2020 Design Excellence Award, in recognition of its architectural excellence, creativity and sustainable design. The building also received a Canadian Green Building Award in 2020 for its sustainable design, architectural excellence and technical innovation.