Toronto U of T: Innis College Expansion | 17.6m | 4s | U of T | Montgomery Sisam

AlbertC

AlbertC

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Looks like Innis College at U of T are planning an expansion:

2 SUSSEX AVE
Ward 11 - Tor & E.York District

Proposal for a 4-storey addition comprised of 1942 square metres of non-residential floor area.

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That would likely be a complete change to the appearance and organization of that building.

I'm not in love with it as is; so I await the proposal with cautious optimism.
 
Innis student here! They had renderings up in the lobby during first semester with sticky notes and pens to attach notes to the design. Innis college is the home of the the Urban Studies department at UofT so my guess is they were trying to engage the student body and faculty with the design process given their background. The renderings looked nice from what I remember. I believe they're intending to build a study/common space running parallel to bpNichol Lane as an extension of Innis Cafe!
 
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Several trees will have to be cut down to make way for the new building.

Most are not native or a terrible loss; but a couple of good sized ones are being removed.

First up:

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Tree 6 must be removed: Amur Cork - Non-Native, non-invasive

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Tree 17 must be removed: Non-Native (non-invasive), Austrian Pine

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Trees 23 and 24 must be removed

Tree 23 is a real shame; its a Green Ash, Native, species has been devastated by Emerald Ash Borer, this tree is very good health and no signs of EAB.

Tree 24 is European Mountain Ash, Non-native


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Tree 26 must be removed.

Honey Locust: Native/Near-native, urban tolerant, good health.


Planting Plan shows 3 replacement trees; which is well below the requirement of 3 replacement trees for each one removed on private property and 1 for 1 for trees on City property.

I assume (but don't know) that will be paid out as cash-in-lieu.

Proposed new Trees:

2 Red Maples (Acer rubrum)
1 Kentucky Coffee Tree ( Gymnocladus dioicus)

Nothing offensive there; though Red Maples aren't the most tolerant of urban environments (gorgeous trees though).

Proposal does include Green Roof elements.
 
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Innis College has a fascinating building by Barton Myers and Jack Diamond. Essentially, it has this deliberate industrial minimalist theme both inside and out that's quite unique if you look at the subtle details.

Its hidden library is a gem in this regard, with an interesting industrial theme expressed through the choice of railings between levels, the style of lighting above the desks, the visibly thin metal floors supported by I-beams, the exposed ductwork, the overall transparency of the multi-level design, the warehouse-style skylight, and the concrete mushroom columns.

It was actually one of my favourite libraries as a U of T student for its quirky modern design with playful references to industry. It sounds like they're intent on moving the library, but they need to preserve and reuse the existing design of the space and be sympathetic to this wonderful design by two talented architects of 1970s Toronto.
 
Innis College to be expanded, renovated over next three years

October 25, 2020

The project, designed by Montgomery Sisam Architects, consists of a three-storey addition to the west wing of the current Innis College building. The new structure will house offices, an expanded Innis Café, and more student-focused spaces — including classrooms, the student learning hub, and meeting and gathering spaces. Innis College is attempting to raise $10 million to fund the project.

The new learning centre included in the expansion will provide students with a variety of accessible spaces for both individual work and collaboration. Featuring expansive windows and green spaces, the project will promote the indoor and outdoor connection and, according to Ha, could create a more dynamic space for students.

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The construction is expected to be completed by 2023. A U of T spokesperson wrote that the university will minimize the impact as much as possible by communicating closely with students to plan for any disruptions. There are preliminary talks to temporarily move affected student groups and activities to alternative spaces.


thevarsity.ca

Innis College to be expanded, renovated over next three years

Proposal to add more student-focused spaces, promoting accessibility, well-being
thevarsity.ca thevarsity.ca
 
U of T terminates the lease with the Innis Cafe, as they prepare for construction on the expansion beginning this summer:

thevarsity.ca

U of T terminates lease agreement for iconic Innis Café, asks them to vacate by June 15

PhD student petition for U of T to keep Innis Café gains 3,100 signatures
thevarsity.ca thevarsity.ca

This past month, U of T asked Gunash and Ali Shahidi, the owners and operators of the beloved Innis Café, to move out of their space in Innis College by June 15 due to impending construction. The university does not currently plan to provide the café with a temporary location to operate from during the construction, which will last until 2025. In an email to The Varsity, Gunash wrote, “We don’t know if we will come back [to Innis].”

In response, Sanchia deSouza, a UTSG PhD candidate studying history, created a petition asking U of T to provide Innis Café with a new kitchen on campus during the construction. Since its creation three weeks ago, the petition received over 3,100 signatures as of March 26.

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In a statement to The Varsity, a U of T spokesperson explained that U of T decided to end the lease because Innis College is “undertaking a major renewal and expansion [project] beginning this summer.” The university hopes to create new student focused spaces that will “enhance the student experience and improve accessibility.”

Gunash said that she and Ali respect the University of Toronto for their decision to close the café during the expected two years of construction. Gunash noted that, to stay on campus while Innis College is under construction, they would require a new space with a kitchen. The Shahidis plan to go to a new location for a while and do not know if they will return to Innis after the construction.

The U of T spokesperson wrote that the Shahidis “are welcome to participate in competitive processes the University holds from time to time to select food service providers for other on-campus spaces.”

Part of the construction at Innis College will include installing a larger café space. According to the university spokesperson, U of T will hold a “competitive process” to determine who will provide food in the renovated space. The spokesperson wrote that such a process is “consistent with the University’s normal practice for all food service locations on the St. George campus.”
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