Realize your future with TMU Graduate Studies
Supporting women through building science
Building Science master's students
Building Science master’s students are providing their expertise to improve the energy efficiency, comfort and durability of the new North York Women’s Shelter (external link) – and gaining real-world experience in the process.
The win-win collaboration is the brainchild of Greg Labbé, Building Science research lab technician, who facilitated this opportunity for women in the program to gain valuable job-site experience in a male-dominated industry. Students participated in meetings with architects, builders and engineers and contributed to technical discussions about the project.
“It’s a unique experience, looking over construction details, discussing potential technical challenges, and then thinking about the women who will be occupants of this building,” said Building Science master’s student Jelena Madzarevic. “Contributing to a real-world project designed to support women was an eye-opening experience.”
Since fall 2017, master’s students have been helping LGA Architectural Partners (external link) detail the shelter’s air-barrier system to meet the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ stringent air-tightness standards. The goal is to improve energy efficiency, reduce discomfort, increase building durability and lower operating costs.
“We are fortunate to have really engaging faculty and staff that are passionate about buildings,” said Madzarevic. “We were provided countless opportunities to develop and practice job-ready skills such as the opportunity Greg extended to us with the North York Women’s Shelter.”
The 2270-square-metre 17-bedroom facility is scheduled to be completed in summer 2019.
Photo credit: Greg Labbé
“Contributing to a real-world project designed to support women was an eye-opening experience.”
The Building Science Lab’s work was made possible by the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science Dean’s Pedagogical Innovation Fund.
Project team members
Faculty:
Dr. Mark Gorgolewski, Chair, Department of Architectural Science
Dr. Russell Richman, Associate Chair, Graduate Studies and Graduate Program Director, Building Science
Staff:
Greg Labbé, Building Science Research Lab Technician
Building Science master’s students:
Erica Barnes
Laura DesRosiers
Jonathan Graham
Romina Kaveh
Elizabeth Leriche
Jelena Madzarevic
Mahsa Nikafkar
Greer Stanier
Austin Todd
Roja Varzegani Safarza
Yu Ying (Anna) Wang
Hannah Weger
LGA Architectural Partners:
Chantal Cornu, Architect
Kris Payne, Senior Associate
Rachel Law, Project Designer
EllisDon:
Robert Quattrociocchi, Building and Material Sciences Manager
Christopher Simonelli, Superintendent
Yung Tang, Project Manager
North York Women’s Shelter:
Mohini Datta-Ray, Executive Director
‘The journey continues to be amazing’
Cyrus Sundar Singh, Communication and Culture PhD student and Documentary Media MFA alumnus
Mahnoor Shahid, Master of Public Policy and Administration alumna
Dr. Kristopher Alexander, Master of Digital Media professor
Rachel McNamee, Environmental Applied Science and Management MASc alumna
Gavin Ball, Master of Digital Media alumnus
Shay Erlich, Child and Youth Care MA graduate
Dr. Karen Spalding, Director, Master of Health Administration (Community Care)
Charlie Wall-Andrews, Management PhD student and Trudeau Scholar
Shaping the future of health care
Kittie Pang, Master of Health Administration (Community Care) student
Dominic Akena, Documentary Media MFA alumnus
Jessica Phulchand, Molecular Science PhD student
Dr. Jenny Liu, Psychology PhD alumna
Emily Shepherdson, Aerospace Engineering PhD student
Pearson Ripley, Documentary Media MFA alumnus
Dr. Dale Carl, Director of Graduate Students and Professor, Ted Rogers School of Management
A new look at the world’s oldest profession
Jenny Duffy, master’s alumna, Philosophy & Public Policy and Administration
Christian Hui, Master of Social Work alumnus
Dr. Anne Wagner, Psychology MA, PhD alumna and adjunct professor
Humza Nusrat, Biomedical Physics PhD student
Making black-and-white more grey
Nathaniel Brunt, Communication and Culture PhD student and Trudeau Scholar
Supporting women through building science
Building Science master's students
Andrew Brankley, Psychology MA alumnus and PhD student
Using drones to locate people with dementia
Dalia Hanna, Computer Science PhD student
Building sustainability into architecture
Matthew Ferguson, Architecture master's student
Flipping the script on Black men's pain
David Grant, Master of Social Work alumnus
Standing up for immigrant women
Vathsala Illesinghe, Policy Studies PhD student
Riley Kucheran, Communication and Culture PhD student
Dr. Kamal Al-Solaylee, Journalism professor, Faculty of Communication & Design
Jamie Fine, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering PhD student
Richa Siddavaatam, Computer Science PhD student
Travonne Edwards, Child and Youth Care MA alumnus
Giving refugees a second chance
Adrienne Smith, Immigration and Settlement Studies MA alumna
Opening possibilities with inclusive tech
Mauricio Meza, MBA-MTI alumnus
Ella Dubinsky, Psychology MA
Secret marathon meets social change
Kate McKenzie, Master of Digital Media alumna
Julie Robertson, Environmental Applied Science and Management MASc alumna
Transgender research meets transformed lives
Jake Pyne, Master of Social Work
Cannabis research meets new potential
Steve Naraine, Molecular Science MSc
Jewelry business meets digital disruption
Noura Sakkijha, Ted Rogers MBA
Dr. Ben Barry, Professor and Director, Centre for Fashion Diversity and Social Change
Dr. Samin Eftekhari, Chemical Engineering PhD
City issues meet the big picture
Dr. Colin Robert Phillips, Policy Studies PhD
Cancer research meets better patient care
Dr. Michael Kolios, Professor and Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies, Faculty of Science
Ariana Cancelli, Master’s in Urban Development, MPl
Professional passion meets real-world opportunities
Jacky Au Duong, Master of Professional Communication
Inspirational faculty meets innovative research
Dr. Amira Abdelrasoul, Chemical Engineering PhD
Entrepreneurship meets accessibility
Maayan Ziv, Master of Digital Media alumna
Life-changing experience meets long-term success
Adedoyin Adesemowo, MBA-MTI
Ancient traditions meet empowered youth
Dr. Réal Carrière, Policy Studies PhD