Architecture firm Perkins+Will has announced a new collaboration with York University to design the School of Continuing Studies building at the Keele campus. Perkins+Will was selected as the winner by the University through a rigorous competition process which took a roster of international design firms down to a shortlist of seven, followed by a competition stage for three finalists.The design offers advanced sustainable design strategies and iconic architecture that will serve as a campus gateway.Targeting a minimum certification of LEED Gold, the design explores the potential for net-zero energy and net-zero carbon. Strategies include a building envelope that meets Passive House standards, heat recovery ventilation, and integrated photovoltaics to generate electricity on site. With a goal of reducing embodied carbon and improving occupant health, York University and Perkins+Will will also explore the possibilities of mass timber as a key structural element of the new school. The building structure twists as it rises, creating a landmark gesture at the Campus?s South East entrance. Its high performance, gently curving, prismatic façade features integrated photovoltaic panels. A generous landscaped plaza and passenger drop-off zone allow for public space and movement. The dramatic form is a calculated response to the campus public realm, patterns of student movement, and the optimization of solar orientation. The design balances the needs of the school itself, the larger...