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Project DescriptionUniversity of Toronto Mississauga Instructional Centre
The University of Toronto at Mississauga (UTM) has developed a number of unique buildings to serve the students on its campus. The Instructional Centre at UTM is no different. Clad in a Zahner pre-patinated copper surface, this custom blue patina on copper was developed specifically for the project.
The patina was an inspired decision by the architects at Perkins + Will whose design required a number of unique aspects for both the interior and exterior of the building.
The architects wanted a facade with an artistic patina, revealing the bare copper in some areas, and hitting dark points in others. This mottled appearance appears natural, but it is manufactured by Zahner.
The award-winning University of Toronto Instruction Centre’s new building is certified LEED Silver, and was completed in 2011.
Related Surface
Instructional Centre
Under normal circumstances, raw copper sheet will develop a copper patina after ten to twenty years. In the case of the UTM Instructional Centre, this patina was developed in a matter of weeks by chemically oxidizing the metal in a controlled environment.
Zahner patina technicians developed a custom Star Blue patina on the copper, modifying its application technique for artistic effect. Zahner cultivates and trains patination experts for both their scientific prowess as well as their artistic vision, because many clients require a high-performance artistic patinated panel rather than a uniform machine-produced surface.
These copper sheets were then formed by Zahner into a panels. The prefabricated panels were crated and shipped to the job site in Toronto, where the pre-patinated panels were installed.
Students walking at dawn amidst the blue copper facade.
Photo © Lisa Logan, courtesy of Perkins + Will Architects.
Students walk up and down the main staircase.
Photo © Lisa Logan, courtesy of Perkins + Will Architects.
Photo © Lisa Logan, courtesy of Perkins + Will Architects. 
Detail of the exterior copper facade.
Photo © Lisa Logan, courtesy of Perkins + Will Architects.
Overhead view of the new building at UTM.
Photo © Lisa Logan, courtesy of Perkins + Will Architects.
Interior view showing the variance of brown and green copper.
Photo © Lisa Logan, courtesy of Perkins + Will Architects.
Interior view showing the variance of brown and green copper.
Photo © Lisa Logan, courtesy of Perkins + Will Architects.
The mood of the patinated copper interior walls changes during the evening.
Photo courtesy of Perkins + Will Architects.
The Instructional Centre is built just northwest of the recently completed Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre. The new building features a cafe in the main entrance and lobby underneath the main staircase.
The Instructional Centre’s design includes two lecture halls stacked vertically and organized into three towers, each clad in the pre-patinated copper. Each of these solid volumes enclose smaller perimeter lounges, enticing students to gather before and after lectures.
The UTM Instructional Centre is located at the north end of campus in place of a parking lot.Read more about the pre-patinated Star Blue patina used on the surface of the building, or Contact Zahner to request custom samples for your project.
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