The SWA Trillium Award of Merit is given to member projects that showcase the industry’s strengths, expertise, and ingenuity. Congratulations to 2024’s recipients.

George Brown College’s Limberlost Place is Ontario’s first mass timber institutional building with a net zero emissions rating. In March 2024, a team consisting of Morrison Hershfield (now Stantec), contractor Flynn Canada Ltd., and manufacturer NaturaSeal joined PCL Constructors Canada Inc. to waterproof this milestone project. 

Waterproofing the 10-storey, 203,000 sq. ft. Toronto campus was no straightforward mission, especially given its close proximity to Lake Ontario and the fact the site is situated on land reclaimed from Lake Ontario through lake filling in the 1950s. “The project site wasn’t just close to the water, it was in the water,” the team says, explaining, “The complicated underground details were impressive, but through exceptional collaboration and innovative solutions, complex challenges were overcome to deliver a fully tanked, watertight, hydrocarbon-proof foundation, with connecting tunnels, associated tie-ins and penetrations. The below-grade level of the building achieved optimal performance, contributing to Limberlost Place’s highly sustainable systems and elements promoting occupant well-being.”

Efforts were also made to mitigate the organic and hydrocarbon contaminates  in the soil and maintain a healthy environment. This was done by incorporating a methane collection and venting system into the waterproofing assembly to resist hydrocarbons and diffuse the methane.

While the project came with a challenging site, the team had experience, expertise, and industry-leading resources at its side. This includes NaturaSeal’s innovative waterproofing solution and PMAE technology, which enables construction to move along quickly and efficiently without sacrificing the integrity of the waterproofing installation. “NS-F300 is spray applied and contains recycled asphalt, which is also highly resistant to methane. Multiple spray lines, easy installation, winter application (with heated lines and the right product) and onsite guidance and support all contributed to staying on schedule,” the submission explains. 

Additionally, NaturaSeal was heavily involved in quality control and field testing, working with the team to conduct over 150 quality control site visits throughout the duration of the project.

All told, proactive planning, out-of-the  box thinking, and exemplary teamwork contributed to a successful outcome. “Exceptional collaboration kept the Limberlost Place waterproofing project on track, facilitating immediate and effective solutions to numerous unforeseen and challenging conditions,” adds the team, noting, “A supportive partnership built on communication and trust were the foundation of this successful water-proofing project.

Reference: https://www.swacanada.ca/pdfs/SWA_Spring-Summer25v7.2-Digital.pdf