Over fifty years ago the baby boom generation was entering university, and Ontario struggled with how to meet the growing demand for quality post-secondary education. Our campus was created as a place that would respond to that growth in a way that is innovative, inclusive and equal to the excellence that is the hallmark of the University of Toronto. Since its founding, UTSC has been characterized by outstanding architecture in a natural setting, with building designs that foster and encourage experiential learning and groundbreaking research.
Today, Ontario must meet the demands of another demographic explosion. The province’s major capacity expansion policy framework sets an ambitious target for postsecondary education attainment of 70 percent, to ensure Ontario continues to benefit from the competitive advantage of a highly skilled and educated workforce.
Having grown significantly in enrolment, programming and physical size from our origins as Scarborough College, University of Toronto Scarborough is prepared to enter its next phase of expansion, with landmark new facilities and a bold Master Plan that reflects our founding principles and core values: facilities that support experiential learning, innovative research and the full array of student services, with amenities that enhance campus and community life, developed with outstanding architecture respectfully integrated with nature.
UTSC's Master Plan supports a world-class academic experience that is seamlessly integrated into the urban fabric of the eastern GTA. Setting out how the campus will evolve to meet the needs of the future, the Master Plan looks beyond incremental growth and takes a major leap ahead, considering broad patterns of development such as street systems and open space networks.
This UTSC Master Plan vision was formed through broad Secondary Plan community consultations with many from business, government, our staff, faculty, students and alumni. Together we have shaped a blueprint for a vibrant community that will thrive for many years to come, one that is abuzz with the excitement of discovery, engaging discourse and dynamic experiences—where students prepare for the best possible future.
Highlights include:
- New instructional, academic and research facilities
- Investment in University housing to meet the needs of a larger student body
- Medical academy located close to the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre and Highway 401
- New parking structure and retail commons
- Indigenous House
- Relocating Military Trail northward to create a pedestrian and student-friendly inner core
- Commercial partnerships with the community
Download the UTSC Masterplan Fact Sheet (pdf)
Download the UTSC Masterplan (pdf)
University of Toronto Scarborough Secondary Plan (pdf)
University of Toronto Scarborough Urban Design Guidelines (pdf)
Landscape and Public Realm Masterplan (pdf)
FAQ
UTSC is responding to Ontario’s growing enrolment targets. Following extensive consultation with the University, local communities and planners from the City of Toronto, the UTSC Campus Master Plan was approved by the University’s Governing Council in 2011.
The plan details how our campus will grow to support the University and our academic mission, and how UTSC contributes to building a thriving community in the eastern GTA.
UTSC’s North Campus has the long-term capacity to grow by up to an additional six million square feet of new space. Our total footprint is roughly the same size as the footprint of the St. George campus.
The Instructional Centre was the first North Zone project. That building opened in 2011. This was quickly followed by groundbreaking for the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TPASC) in the fall of 2012, and groundbreaking for the Environmental Science and Chemistry Building, in 2013. TPSAC opens in 2014 and serves as the new home of our Athletics + Recreation department l. The Environmental Science and Chemistry Building is on schedule for completion in the summer of 2015.
The Master Plan has also identified:
- New academic and research facilities
- Hotel-conference centre located close to the Pan Am facility and Highway 401
- Relocating Military Trail northward to create a pedestrian and student-friendly inner core
- A central, multi-purpose public transportation hub located at Ellesmere Road and the new Military Trail
The Highland Creek Ravine is book-ended by Morningside Park to the west and Col. Danforth Park to the south. It plays an important role in the regional natural heritage network and is an important part of UTSC. At the south end of campus, careful redevelopment will enhance and reconnect with the ravine. We continue to strengthen a program of environmental stewardship working with the City, TRCA, and Parks Canada.
The 300-acre USTC campus can be defined by three zones: South Campus, North Campus, and Ravine. The Ravine is an important feature of UTSC and is part of regional green way that extends from Markham to Lake Ontario. The carefully preserved setting of the original development recalls the natural history of the university land base and the buildings that have been sited to maintain the vistas over the Highland Creek watershed. The South Campus zone is the current built area and original development. In order to accommodate 21st century growth, the Master Plan identifies the North Campus zone, North of Ellesmere Road, as the focus for development.
Treating the Highland Creek Ravine with respect, we continue to strengthen a program of environmental stewardship working with the City, TRCA, and Parks Canada.
New campus developments are being designed with utilities and infrastructure efficiency such as geothermal heating to mitigate green house gases. Water conservation and on-site storm water management are priorities as is universal accessibility.
The Master Plan proposes relocating a portion of Military Trail northward to create a pedestrian and student-friendly inner core, with a central, multi-purpose public transportation hub located at Ellesmere Road and the re-located intersection with Military Trail.
The Master Plan maximizes transportation options with an emphasis on:
- Cycling
- Pedestrian corridors
- Transit
- Cars