Centennial's Library and Academic Facility, designed by celebrated Toronto firm Diamond + Schmitt Architects, is taking shape on its prominent site in the centre of Progress Campus.

The facility's two-level library, lecture halls, classrooms, labs and living green wall, will form the campus's fabulous new "front door."

Ezio Del Fatti, the Senior Project Manager for contractor EllisDon Corporation, says construction of the $46-million addition is progressing on time and on budget.

While the four-storey building does not have a traditional basement, crews worked hard to break ground in cold weather and pour the footings for the foundation and structural supports. Because the building will be LEED Gold-certified to meet environmental sustainability goals, the cement mix includes 40-per-cent slag, a by-product of steel production.

Other eco-friendly construction practices include careful erosion and sediment control to keep the soil from running off the site, the use of recycled construction materials, diversion of construction waste away from landfill, a preference for materials manufactured within 800 km of the site, and the use of water-based adhesives and sealants.

Now that all the concrete has been poured in place, crews have begun working on the structural steel roof and curtain walls, as well as install the blocks and bricks as per the shop drawings. At the peak of construction activity there are approximately 100 construction workers employed on the project.

The Library and Academic Facility, which is financed jointly by the Ontario and Canadian governments through the 2009 Ontario budget and the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2011.