University of Toronto, St. George Campus, Project Climate Positive LEAP

Project Summary

The University of Toronto is accelerating its decarbonization efforts at St. George campus with Project LEAP, a $138M initiative aimed at cutting emissions by 50% by 2027. The project will phase out natural gas in favor of electricity in the central steam plant, implement energy-efficient technologies like LED lighting and active heat recovery in 35 buildings, and integrate a geo-exchange system to store and reuse heat. Funded by over $50M in Canada Infrastructure Bank financing and private lenders, the initiative sets a new model for large-scale sustainability projects in higher education, saving the university over $40M and speeding up retrofits of key buildings. It could also serve as a framework for other institutions to follow in reducing carbon emissions.

In 2024, MGAC was awarded the contract to provide project management services for the University of Toronto’s Project LEAP. Our responsibilities encompass managing every phase of the project, including design, construction, measurement and verification, and close-out activities. As part of this highly complex initiative, MGAC will leverage its robust project controls to represent the University in key meetings, oversee owner’s consultant management, and lead coordination with the contractor team. Our scope also includes site oversight and reviews, developing a program-level schedule, monitoring and reporting on budgets, overseeing payment certifications, and implementing risk mitigation strategies.

Working hand in hand with the University of Toronto Project Team, MGAC is ensuring this historic transformation gets the project management attention it deserves and helps position this mission toward success.