Ontario Construction News staff writer
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) celebrated the official groundbreaking of TMU’s Student Wellbeing Centre on May 6. Work on the new eight-storey addition to O’Keefe House is underway and will create a central location for well-being services on campus when it opens.
Building design has been led by Hariri Pontarini Architects with support from Two-Row Architect for Indigenous design elements. Pomerleau is the construction manager.
“The Student Wellbeing Centre is at the heart of our vision for well-being supports and services on campus,” said Mohamed Lachemi, president and vice-chancellor. “It is no coincidence that our students have led the support for this project because at TMU, our students have a track record of being drivers of change.”
The Student Wellbeing Centre has been designed in consultation with the City of Toronto’s Heritage Planning services as well as an independent heritage consultant. The proposed plans aim to respect the existing character of the site and surrounding built environment while providing adequate space for the wellbeing programs offered.
The design optimizes access to natural light and will feature mass timber construction to provide a warm, organic feel, with natural materials and opportunities for Indigenous placemaking. The use of mass timber construction, multiple passive green roofs and adaptation of an existing building also help to reduce the building’s overall carbon footprint to help forward TMU’s commitment to sustainable building practices and support ecological health.
The central location and accessible design underscore the important role the centre will have as a quality environment that focuses on health, openness and inclusiveness as cornerstones of wellbeing. Services at the site will include:
- Centre for Student Development and Counseling
- Medical Centre
- Health Promotion Programs
- Academic Accommodation Support
- Tri-Mentoring Program
- Thriving Innovations
- Consent Comes First and more all under one roof
