What鈥檚 new at U of T: Landmark transformation, new dining options and more
Students, faculty, staff and librarians may have noticed some dramatic changes across the 狐狸视频鈥檚 three campuses this fall.
From new academic pathways to more food options and greener spaces, here are four new things that U of T students need to know as they immerse themselves in university life.
New buildings and spaces
Students at U of T Scarborough moved into a new, and enjoyed revamped outdoor spaces. At U of Mississauga, a multi-year, $8.5-million renovation project upgraded the Leacock Lane townhome residences, while a new science building that will provide additional wet-laboratory space is scheduled to open this fall.
On the St. George campus, meanwhile, the Landmark project has transformed the historic core around King鈥檚 College Circle into a greener, more accessible and pedestrian-friendly space, and has allowed for the installation of Canada鈥檚 largest urban geoexchange system. The system stores surplus heat in the summer for use in the cold winter months, saving the university an estimated 15,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually 鈥 a key part of U of T鈥檚 plan to make the .
Scott Mabury, U of T鈥檚 vice-president of operations and real estate partnerships, said the goal of Landmark 鈥 with its car-free plazas and green spaces, including Ziibiing, 鈥 was to create a campus space that would engage the U of T community now and into the future.
鈥淲e really wanted to reconnect the university community with its heritage,鈥 said Mabury, who added that workers would be busy planting throughout the fall.
鈥淭hese public plazas are places where U of T community members can enjoy themselves, engage with the university, connect with ideas and, when needed, sit in quiet contemplation and rumination.鈥
The area outside Convocation Hall, meanwhile, is now known as Alumni Plaza, named in honour of U of T鈥檚 alumni community. It features over 2,000 granite paving stones, each inscribed with the names of donors who supported the project.
Mabury said the plaza will soon become a key part of the university experience for graduating students from all three campuses.
鈥淭his was for the whole 狐狸视频 鈥 including U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough 鈥 because every student will graduate in that landscape and in that environment,鈥 he said.
Mobile ordering and new places to eat
It is now easier than ever for 狐狸视频 students to grab something tasty to eat 鈥 with a host of new dining options that have emerged across the three campuses.
At U of T Mississauga, Dana Hospitality is putting the focus on local food made from scratch 鈥搒andwiches and salads to go, soups made from local ingredients and house-made stocks, locally sourced meats and poultry and in-house pizza.
U of T Scarborough, meanwhile, has a new caf茅 open in the Humanities Wing. Bottega features grab-and-go sandwiches and pastries, as well as bubble tea and more.
At St. George, new food stops include at Robarts and at the Medical Sciences Building, the latter of which features Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired salads influenced by Israeli-born British chef and food writer Yotam Ottolenghi.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a healthier mindset of how food should be prepared,鈥 said Jaco Lokker, U of T鈥檚 director of culinary operations and executive chef. 鈥淢ost of the foods are either roasted or grilled. We鈥檙e poaching the fish instead of pan frying it.鈥
He added that sustainability remains a top priority for U of T when developing new culinary concepts and sourcing ingredients, which is why he is continuing to work on expanding menus to feature more plant-based foods. To that end, food services began working this summer with a student startup called Lyrata Inc. to grow a variety of lettuce on campus.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e growing Boston and romaine lettuce and we鈥檝e started growing some red leaf and Greenleaf lettuce,鈥 Lokker said, adding that he expects as much as 50 per cent of the St. George campus鈥檚 lettuce will be grown in its own backyard.
鈥淲e pick up the lettuce at Earth Sciences Center Greenhouse, bring it across the street to New College clean it and use it.鈥
Also on the St. George campus, retail and dining locations in the Medical Sciences Building, Sidney Smith Hall, Chestnut Residence, New College and Campus One have transitioned to a cashless payment system 鈥 credit or debit cards, TBucks, meal plan dollars 鈥 or students can order in advance using the Transact Mobile Ordering app.
鈥淚t鈥檚 almost like UberEats in your building,鈥 Lokker said.
Expansion of U of T鈥檚 Navi
Navi, , has expanded its scope beyond mental health resources to offer general assistance to students, staff, faculty and librarians across the three campuses.
Short for navigator, Navi now provides information on admissions, housing, financial aid, careers, and more through the same easy-to-use chat interface. For example, users can ask Navi about resources such as study supports, finding community and how to connect with a register.
The information shared with Navi is completely anonymous and users are reminded that the resources and supports provided do not replace workshops or one-to-one conversations with experts.
Another change to note: U of T鈥檚 My SPP has been renamed . The service provides students with 24-7 immediate counselling support over the phone in English, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, and aims to match students with a counsellor who can support their preferred language.
Global leadership opportunities at U of T
A new tri-campus program kicks off this fall.
The new program 鈥 the first global-focused program at U of T that intentionally brings students together from across all three campuses 鈥 prepares students to become globally confident future leaders who recognize and embrace diversity, face challenges with empathy and champion respectful collaboration in a globalized world. It includes a core series of three global leadership courses to be taken in students鈥 second, third and fourth years.
The global leadership minor will equip students with practical skills and global fluencies through group work, experiential learning and a capstone project. There will be opportunities to become part of a diverse interdisciplinary community of students interested in leadership and global change, learn dynamic and collaborative approaches to problem solving and more.