The new Campus Store and Academic Building at Brock University includes a fully fit out Campus Store on the ground level with two storeys of academic offices and teaching spaces above. Amongst the many innovative features, the facility incorporates thermal storage in building mass, rainwater harvesting, 100% fresh air in occupied spaces and xeriscaping.

The building has been given a Canada Green Building Council LEED Silver rating. This project employed a highly participatory process in which a series of design workshops were held with the client groups over several days. The main design session involved almost 100 individuals representing diverse groups such as faculty members for 5 separate faculties, book store managers and staff, university administration (including president and VPs), facilities staff, custodial staff, student representatives, architects, retail designers, mechanical engineers, structural engineers, electrical engineers, LEED consultants, and others. Challenges were identified in how to marry retail and academic uses.  In the end synergies were identified and explored, resulting in a “mainstreet” expression for lecture rooms which are configured with large “storefronts” facing onto the main public atrium.