New Residence Building for U of T

(rendering courtesy DSAI)

The first new student residence at the University of Toronto’s downtown St. George campus in a decade has received the go-ahead to proceed, the building will incorporate a three-storey heritage building and rise 23-storeys at the corner of Spadina and Sussex Avenues.

According to a U of T News article, last year the university filed an appeal with the Ontario Municipal Board (now the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal) in order to reach a mediated agreement with the City and the community to move the project forward.

(rendering courtesy DSAI)

In the end, the U of T agreed to reduce the height and footprint of the tower and add several townhouses. The university will also try to limit the number of first-year students in the building to 60% of the total occupants, with the remainder being upper-year and graduate students.

Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, the residence addresses an urgent need for student accommodation in Toronto’s tight real estate market.

The slender brick-clad tower will house 511 students in a structure that mixes modern residence spaces with retail storefronts.

Student common areas will include study space, a music practice room, fitness studio and project room on the mezzanine level. Two dining halls and a multipurpose event space will occupy the second floor. The adjacent Robert Street Field, used by U of T’s Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, will be rejuvenated for community and school use.

(rendering courtesy DSAI)

The Spadina-Sussex Residence is a partnership between U of T and developer The Daniels Corp. The University’s plan is to create housing on the main downtown campus for 2,300 additional students by 2020.