University of Ontario Institute of Technology

The heart of the campus is a landscaped commons surrounded by five academic buildings and the University Library. While each building establishes separate identity and access from the perimeter ring road, a connected collegial pedestrian precinct is established around the green campus commons.

Located beneath the commons is a Borehole Thermal Energy Storage System (BTESS) that harvests energy stored in the earth for heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. The system comprises 392 closed-loop boreholes that extend 190 metres below the surface of the commons and provide 2,000 tons of energy-efficient sustainable heating and cooling. A comprehensive water management strategy, including rainwater collection and a retention pond, was employed to protect an adjacent watershed.