Mount Dennis Childcare – Net Zero Energy Facility

The Mount Dennis Childcare Centre is a 19,000sf, two-storey plus basement facility located within the City of Toronto’s first net zero energy neighbourhood pilot project. As the largest childcare centre in the city, it accommodates up to 98 children and was the first of its kind to be designed to achieve both net zero energy and net zero carbon emissions. The building supports a full range of early childhood programming with two infant rooms, three toddler rooms, and three preschool rooms, as well as a parent resource room located close to the entrance lobby. Additional features include a demonstration kitchen for food-based activities, a rooftop playground, a multi-purpose room, offices, laundry, storage, and a staff room.

Designed according to Passive House high-performance building principles, the centre incorporates a robust building envelope, triple-pane windows, and heat recovery ventilation to minimize energy consumption. The facility is equipped with rooftop solar panels capable of generating approximately 112,000 kWh annually, exceeding the building’s projected energy use of 91,000 kWh per year. Battery storage and well-insulated below-grade walls further enhance energy efficiency and resilience.

The project also included extensive hard and soft landscaping, with the addition of new trees, benches, bike racks, and designated parking and drop-off areas. The Mount Dennis Childcare Centre sets a new benchmark for sustainable civic infrastructure, demonstrating how thoughtful design can support both environmental goals and community needs.