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A night view of Centennial College’s new multi-purpose library and academic building in Scarborough, an eastern suburb of Toronto. It’s designed to be the gateway to the college’s main campus.

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Toronto’s Centennial College serves as an air filtering system that draws air through the plant wall, where micro-organisms on the plant roots ingest harmful pollutants.

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The wall is designed to call to mind pages of a book. The award-winning building, designed by Donald Schmitt of Diamond and Schmitt Architects, opened last year.Paul French

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Distinctive gold-tinted windows on an exterior wall face busy Highway 401, part of the TransCanada.Paul French

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Vaulting ceilings, skylights and walls of glass encourage students to hang out in the library.Paul French

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The building offers a variety of study areas so students can work alone or in groups.Paul French

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A green-glass staircase at the far end of the atrium complements the bio-wall on the opposite side.Paul French

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A state-of-the-art meeting room. The Centennial building was recently recognized in the PUG Awards, a people’s choice architecture award in Toronto, for commercial or institutional buildings opened in the past year.Paul French

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Centennial College wanted to add a building that would add design and presence to the campus. ‘It’s a campus landmark,’ Mr. Schmitt says.Paul French

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