The expression ‘walk the talk’ was a driving force behind PCL’s decision to relocate our district office serving the Greater Toronto Area by designing a workplace of the future for the 600+ district employees. The vision and result is a sophisticated, contemporary office that exemplifies openness, flexibility, collaboration, digitization and, above all, sustainability.

“We recognized the need to elevate our Toronto workplace to sustain our operations well into the future,” says Todd Craigen, President, Eastern Canada. “Our new space is an important investment in our employees and our partners and sets the stage for PCL to recruit and retain the best people in the industry.”

Knowing that it there would be a learning curve in the implementation of the new LEED v4 ID+C for commercial interiors, we decided to use the project as ‘living lab’ case study.

As standards evolve, our office is designed to adapt. From the adjustable mechanical systems to the integrated lighting control system, each element is tied into a Building Automation System (BAS) that monitors and controls the HVAC system, optimizing operational performance and efficiency.

“PCL’s commitment to sustainability is truly evidenced in their new Toronto office where they pushed the boundaries to lead the industry through early adoption of LEED® V4,” says Alan Murphy, principal of Green Reason. “By utilizing the project as a living lab for this new rigorous set of standards, we explored this new and challenging rating system together for application on future client projects.”

Construction and demolition activities generate approximately 33% of the solid waste generated in North America. To reduce this impact, PCL implemented a construction waste management plan to achieve almost 90% diversion of all the waste generated by the project. Diverted waste streams included wood, metal, plastics and drywall. A large percentage of the wood-based materials installed in the project, including millwork substrates and furniture, were certified by the FSC as being harvested from sustainably managed forests.

Central to PCL’s company culture is the story of our founder, Ernest Poole. Before the business later evolved into its current-day employee-ownership model, Ernest outlined what came to be known as Poole’s Rules, a set of business principles defining PCL’s core values.

To commemorate the past while embracing the workplace of the future, PCL commissioned a graphic artist to etch Poole’s Rules in Ernest’s handwriting on glass panels. This artwork, which is prominently displayed in the main lobby, gracefully interweaves the company’s past with its current narrative.

Our legacy was further integrated into the architecture of the workspace through its use of materials and finishes. Natural and raw materials like wood, brick, concrete, steel, glass, and stone are used throughout public spaces to connect with our identity as a construction company.