Tory Building HVAC upgrades

The Henry Marshall Tory Building will undergo heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades during summer 2026.

19 June 2026

Upgrades to two heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the Henry Marshall Tory building happening over the summer will affect ventilation for the building during July and August.

What to expect

Work is occurring in the sub-basement mechanical room and the 15th floor mechanical room. Both projects are scheduled to run simultaneously. Odorous, noisy and otherwise intrusive work will be done after regular building hours — between 6 p.m and 7 a.m. and on weekends.

All work will be done in accordance with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) guidelines and regulations. Air monitoring and clearance reports will be conducted and produced by certified personnel.

The ventilation systems will be shut down for the duration of the project and temperatures in the tower could rise to uncomfortable levels. The building will remain open for individuals to temporarily access their space, check computers or work.

While OHS legislation does not mandate a fixed maximum numerical temperature for workplaces, Human Resources, Health, Safety and Environment has been consulted and measures are in place to find alternate space for individuals. Those who are unable to work from home will be relocated to other spaces on campus during the shut down.

Sensitive collections and other identified areas will have temporary cooling in place, and temporary cooling equipment on-going maintenance checks are planned to occur.

Anticipated Schedule

  • June 15–29 - Decanting
  • June 26 - Temporary cooling for select/identified rooms in place
  • June 29 - Existing air handling unit and supply fan shut down
  • June 29–July 24 - Pre-construction activity
  • July 27–mid-August - Anticipated receipt and installation of equipment
  • August 24 - Air handling unit and supply fan brought back online
  • August 24–28 - Commissioning, balancing, testing, trade training, and turnover
  • August 27 - Staff/faculty scheduled to move back to original locations

This notice was updated on August 17, 2026 with details about late August activities.