University of Ottawa Faculty of Health Sciences, Canada

Project Overview

• Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
• Project: University of Ottawa Faculty of Health Sciences Building
• Property Type: Higher education / health sciences facility
• Builder: PCL Construction
• Building Size: 234,000 sq ft
• Building Height: Five storeys
• Application: Low-maintenance glass protection
• Glass Area Treated: 2,200 m² / 23,681 sq ft
• Sustainability: LEED Platinum certified
• Solution: EnduroShield protective glass coating for low-maintenance, bird-friendly building glass

Low-Maintenance Glass for a Sustainable Campus Building

The University of Ottawa Faculty of Health Sciences Building was developed as a modern home for health sciences education, research and teaching. Located at the university’s 200 Lees Campus, the five-storey facility brings together learning, laboratory and administrative spaces designed to support future health professionals.

As part of the building’s glass package, EnduroShield was applied to 2,200 m² / 23,681 sq ft of glass to support low-maintenance performance and long-term ease of cleaning.

The project also aligns with bird-friendly and sustainable building design priorities, making it a strong example of how protective glass coating can support modern education, healthcare and institutional environments.

The Challenge: Sustainable Glass Performance in a High-Use Building

Educational and health sciences buildings need materials that support long-term durability, cleanliness and efficient maintenance. Glass plays an important role in daylight, visibility and architectural design, but it can also be exposed to dirt, water staining, environmental contaminants and frequent maintenance demands.

For the University of Ottawa Faculty of Health Sciences Building, the key considerations included:

• Supporting low-maintenance glass performance
• Helping keep treated glass easier to clean over time
• Reducing the ability of contaminants to bond to the glass surface
• Supporting the building’s sustainable design goals
• Aligning with bird-friendly building considerations
• Providing a practical solution for a high-use campus environment

Because the building was designed with sustainability in mind, the glass protection solution needed to support both long-term appearance and easier maintenance.

The Solution: EnduroShield Protective Glass Coating

EnduroShield was applied to 2,200 m² / 23,681 sq ft of glass to create an invisible, easy-clean protective surface.

The coating helps reduce the ability of water, dirt and environmental contaminants to bond to the glass. This makes treated glass easier to clean and helps support lower-maintenance performance over time.

For institutional and education projects, this type of protective glass coating is especially valuable. It can help facility teams maintain glass surfaces more efficiently while supporting the long-term appearance of the building.

Key functions of the coating include:

• Helping create an easy-clean glass surface
• Reducing the ability of contaminants to bond to the glass
• Supporting simpler cleaning and maintenance
• Helping maintain long-term glass clarity and appearance
• Supporting low-maintenance building design
• Complementing sustainable and bird-friendly project objectives

Supporting LEED Platinum and Bird-Friendly Design Goals

The University of Ottawa Faculty of Health Sciences Building has been recognised for its sustainability performance, achieving LEED Platinum certification.

The project includes sustainable design features such as a high-performance building envelope, efficient systems and site design considerations that support biodiversity and environmental responsibility.

Bird-friendly building design is an important part of sustainable architecture, particularly on campuses and urban sites where glass, lighting and landscape design all influence the built environment. By supporting lower-maintenance glass performance, EnduroShield complements projects where durability, cleanliness and sustainability are central priorities.

Results and Long-Term Benefits

With EnduroShield applied to 2,200 m² / 23,681 sq ft of glass, the University of Ottawa Faculty of Health Sciences Building benefits from a protective treatment designed to support easier long-term glass maintenance.

The coating helps reduce cleaning difficulty by limiting how strongly water, dirt and contaminants adhere to the treated surface. For a high-use education and research facility, this supports a cleaner appearance and more efficient maintenance over time.

Key Benefits

• Protected 2,200 m² / 23,681 sq ft of glass
• Supported low-maintenance glass performance
• Helped create an easy-clean treated surface
• Supported long-term glass clarity and appearance
• Complemented the building’s sustainable design objectives
• Aligned with bird-friendly building priorities
• Provided a practical solution for a major university facility

Why Education and Institutional Projects Choose EnduroShield

Universities, healthcare buildings and institutional facilities require practical, durable and scalable maintenance solutions. Glass surfaces need to maintain appearance while supporting efficient cleaning across high-use environments.

EnduroShield is used globally across commercial, institutional, hospitality, infrastructure and architectural glass projects to help reduce maintenance demands and protect glass surfaces.

Suitable applications include:

• University and education buildings
• Health sciences and healthcare facilities
• Institutional buildings
• Commercial glass façades
• Exterior architectural glass
• Glass entrances and public-facing areas
• Bird-friendly glass and sustainable building projects
• Factory-applied and project-based glass protection

By improving the cleanability of glass, EnduroShield supports long-term maintenance planning for buildings where appearance, sustainability and operational efficiency matter.

Relevance for Architects, Builders and Facility Managers

For architects and specifiers, protective glass coating can be considered early in the design and specification process to support long-term glass performance.

For builders and façade teams, applying EnduroShield as part of the project scope helps ensure the treated glass is ready to support lower-maintenance outcomes after installation.

For facility managers, the benefit is practical: glass that is easier to clean, easier to maintain and better suited to high-use institutional environments.

At the University of Ottawa Faculty of Health Sciences Building, EnduroShield supported a modern, sustainable project where low-maintenance glass and bird-friendly design priorities were important considerations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is low-maintenance glass?

Low-maintenance glass is glass that has been treated or designed to reduce cleaning difficulty. A protective glass coating can help water, dirt and contaminants release more easily from the surface, making the glass easier to maintain over time.

How does protective glass coating help university buildings?

Protective glass coating helps university buildings by making treated glass easier to clean, reducing the ability of contaminants to bond to the surface and supporting long-term appearance in high-use campus environments.

Is EnduroShield suitable for sustainable building projects?

Yes. EnduroShield can support sustainable building projects by helping reduce cleaning difficulty, supporting long-term glass performance and complementing maintenance strategies that aim to reduce reliance on harsh cleaning methods.

For Low-Maintenance and Bird-Friendly Glass Projects

From education and healthcare facilities to commercial buildings, façades and institutional projects, EnduroShield helps protect glass and reduce ongoing maintenance demands.

For architects, builders, developers and facility managers, EnduroShield provides a practical solution for improving glass performance across sustainable and high-use building environments.

Speak to our team about your next low-maintenance glass project →