The expansion and renovation of the Humber Polytechnic (formerly Humber College) Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology has helped address the increasing demand for apprenticeship and trades training.
The project scope included construction of a two-storey addition of 16,600 square feet, new two-storey elevator, and renovations of 11,500 square feet within the existing Centre for Trades and Technology, located near Humber Polytechnic's North Campus in Etobicoke.
The expansion provides enhanced training spaces and facilities for pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, and post-secondary learners. It includes a refrigeration lab, gas, and oil lab, AR/VR/XR simulation studios, heat plant, study spaces, remote studio, and collaboration pods. The building addition seamlessly interfaces with the existing slab-on-grade building. Multiple accessibility considerations were incorporated into the final design.
As construction managers. we were integrated early into the project team, which allowed us to provide constructability recommendations on the initial design, recommend adjustments to the process, equipment, and material decisions to ensure the target budget and schedule was achieved. In collaboration with Redevelopment team and Consultants, Compass led the process of defining Order of Magnitude decisions and determined the most appropriate sequential sub-trade tendering process.
Through active listening and asking key questions, Compass gained a deeper understanding of the project and the building’s intended use. We provided multiple recommendations regarding the shipping & receiving area that was within the scope of this building addition – regarding the intended operational flow and efficiencies of materials in and out of this environment. These recommendations were adopted into the final design by the Consultants. The Redevelopment team and Humber Polytechnic's Operations staff are pleased with our recommendations, which has resulted in enhanced functionality.
It’s anticipated that an additional 500 students a year will be trained at the expanded Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology - in plumbing, carpentry, electrical, millwright and welding.
Compass is proud of our continued relationship with Humber Polytechnic. In 2009, Compass was the construction manager for the original adaptive reuse project - transforming this building from a furniture manufacturing plant into their Humber Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology facility.
