Image courtesy of University of Toronto Scarborough.
Work is under way to bring a new front door to the University of Toronto Scarborough campus. Construction has begun on what is tentatively being called Highland Hall, a new $52-million building designed by Perkins+Will, located between the Student Centre and the new arrival court that faces Military Trail from the campus.
?It?s bringing a front door to a place that doesn?t have one,? says UTSC?s Chief Administrative Office Andrew Arifuzzaman. The five-storey building will house UTSC?s Recruitment and Registrar?s offices, and provide a new home for the social sciences department that will include modern labs, classrooms, study spaces and a multi-use space that can accommodate up to 600 students. UTSC?s entrepreneurial centre, The Hub, will also relocate to the building. Image courtesy of University of Toronto Scarborough.
The new building, which will cover 134,216 square-feet (12,469 sq. metres) once it opens, has received philanthropic support totalling $1.3-million from three UTSC alumni including Mark Krembil of the Krembil Foundation, as well as husband and wife Adam Watson and Yien-Ha Watson. Paramount Fine Foods has also contributed. The campus is also partnering with the Hammer Heads Program ? a construction apprenticeship program for youth from under-resourced communities. ?It?s a way of building and retaining wealth in the community,? says Arifuzzaman.

The concept for Highland takes inspiration from U...