Sustainability
There are many elements of the Bahen Centre that contribute to the overall sustainability of the project. One of the biggest factors is the use of excess steam from the U of T steam plant to provide 92% of the total heating needs for the building. The Building also incorporates sun-shading devices along both the east and south side of the building reducing the amount of cooling needs during the summer months. Diamond + Schmitt also used the program of the building to create the most efficient use of space and add to the sustainability of the building. Due to the large amounts of computers used in the departments, labs were designed to face the coolest wall (north) to provide relief from the heat created by the computers. Incorporated into the building, a two story storm management tank feeds all the water features within the courtyards. This includes the small waterfall which leads from the south of the building to College St. Despite the claims of sustainability, the center used almost 470 kWh/m2 of energy in 2009–2010 U of T Campus Environmental Footprint, compared to the average of new commercial buildings in the 300–350 range.
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