Despite a chilly winter start, Centennial's Library and Academic Facility is beginning to take shape on its prominent site in the centre of Progress Campus. The addition, designed by celebrated Toronto firm Diamond + Schmitt Architects, will form the campus's fabulous new "front door." Centennial students are looking forward to making use of the facility's two-level library, lecture halls, classrooms, labs and living green wall gracing the interior atrium and welcome centre. Ezio Del Fatti, Senior Project Manager for contractor EllisDon Corporation, says the $46-million addition to the campus is on schedule after a small setback that saw the December rain flash freeze, creating a lot of ice that hampered soil excavation. While the new facility does not have a traditional basement, crews worked hard to break ground and pour the footings for the foundation and structural supports. Because the building will be LEED Gold-certified to meet environmental sustainability goals, the cement mix includes 40-per-cent slag, a by-product of steel production. Other eco-friendly construction practices include careful erosion and sediment control to keep the soil from running off the site, the use of recycled construction materials, diversion of construction waste away from landfill, a preference for materials manufactured within 800 km of the site, and the use of water-based adhesives and sealants. Del Fatti says the four-storey building will rise quickly over the next few months as crews pour the reinforced concrete columns and slab floors. To date 1,100 cubic metres of concrete have been poured. Approximately 40 people are working on site presently; at the peak there will be 100 construction workers employed on the project. The facility will be topped off in June with a roof made of structural steel. Centennial is planning a traditional topping-off ceremony to mark the occasion, although a date has not been set. The Library and Academic Facility is scheduled to be completed in the spring of next year. | 
