A new structure is taking shape on the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) campus, poised to become the world’s first fully digitally integrated building. This innovative project, Smart Campus Integration Testing, SCITHub, is set to open this autumn and aims to showcase cutting-edge technologies designed to combat the effects of climate change.
Located at the junction of Dundas Street East and Mutual Street, the two-storey SCITHub will serve as a testing ground for a wide range of smart-building technologies. The facility is expected to foster collaboration between TMU’s researchers and professionals from various industries, focusing on developing solutions to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment.
Construction is progressing on the 3,229-square-foot modular building, which is designed in an L-shape. The structure’s exterior is nearing completion, with work now turning to the interior. The building’s envelope is made from mass timber panels, prefabricated off-site and assembled on location. The final timber panels are expected to arrive on-site in May, marking a significant milestone in the project’s development.
The SCITHub has been in the works since 2019, and significant time has been spent securing the necessary approvals and permits. The project, which is estimated to cost $6 million, is funded primarily by the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Research Fund, alongside donations from various corporate partners.
Once completed, SCITHub will not only stand as a model of sustainable construction but will also serve as a “living lab” for research and development in smart campus technologies. Researchers will test innovations related to energy, water, transportation, and smart living, while the building will be integral to the research process. The building’s unique design will integrate lighting, security, and communications systems, all of which can be controlled remotely to explore solutions for decarbonising the built environment.
One of the building’s most exciting features is its use of a digital infrastructure, which includes a Cognitive Digital Twin, a system that will process data from a wide range of sensors monitoring campus pedestrian movement, traffic flow, and weather. These insights will help inform research on energy optimisation and sustainable building technologies. A central command and control centre will tie together all the digital equipment and sensors, creating an integrated digital ecosystem that allows researchers to experiment with smart-building systems in real time.
The ground floor of SCITHub will house a research and operations centre, which will monitor data from building automation systems and campus sensors. The second floor will be dedicated to smart office technologies, featuring workshops and test cells to evaluate various energy-saving solutions. Among the innovations to be tested are all-electric HVAC systems, which will allow researchers to compare different energy optimisation strategies under various conditions.
The building will also feature an intelligent modular structural panel system to simplify integrating digital access and electrical systems. The university has opted for a modular construction approach, with components prefabricated off-site to speed up the building process and reduce on-site construction time. This approach enhances efficiency and contributes to a cleaner, safer construction site.
The project has faced its fair share of challenges, including delays and the need to navigate supply chain issues and tariffs. However, the university has secured the necessary materials, many sourced from within Canada, ensuring the project stays on track.
Once completed, SCITHub will stand as a testament to the future of sustainable construction, smart technology, and the role of universities in addressing the pressing environmental challenges of our time.
