Ontario teachers union’s new mass timber HQ

By Rich Christianson
The Woodworking Network
February 17, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada East

TORONTO — The new headquarters for the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation is a state-of-the-art mass timber structure designed by Moriyama Teshima Architects. The 124,000-square-foot building prioritizes sustainability and wellness, utilizing abundant natural light and a structural connection to natural elements. The architectural approach allows the cross-laminated timber and glue-laminated timber to serve as the defining elements of the interior. A clean, monochromatic palette was chosen specifically to highlight the natural beauty of the exposed wood. Key design features include: Exposed Structure: To keep the wooden ceilings visible. …Interior finishes—such as neutral carpet tiles and stone-like textures—were selected to harmonize with the timber and evoke the surrounding ravine landscape. …Acoustic Detail: The design incorporates walnut slat ceiling systems with integrated absorptive material to manage acoustics while maintaining the wood-forward aesthetic.

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