Announcement: Anne Macdonald, AVP, Spaces & Experiences
Message from Scott Mabury, Vice-President, Operations & Real Estate Partnerships: Dear colleagues, It is with enormous admiration — and no small amount of disbelief at the passage of time — that I share the news that Anne Macdonald, our Associate Vice-President, Spaces & Experiences, will retire from the University of Toronto on May 31, 2026, after more than 23 years of extraordinary leadership. Anne’s leadership has been nothing short of transformative. Over two decades, she has reshaped how students live, eat, gather, celebrate, and experience life at U of T, leaving an imprint on the physical campus and on the [...]
Charting our digital future: IT@UofT Tech Alignment Task Force kicks off heading into 2026
Published on: November 25, 2025 Our IT landscape at the University of Toronto is robust and varied, and collaboration is key to our next stage of evolution. In order to build the future-ready, AI-enabled university we want, we need to align our technology capabilities across the tri-campus. What exactly does that entail? The new IT@UofT Tech Alignment Task Force is rolling up its sleeves to tackle this question. Spearheaded by the Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO), the Tech Alignment Task Force will take a deep look at technology capabilities, practices and resources across the entire university to modernize our digital [...]
A True Home Away From Home
Three former University Family Housing (UFH) residents—Hamza Husain, Wajiha Ilham and Ibtisaam Wasi—who arrived as young children while their parents completed their studies at U of T, now work or volunteer at the Charles Street community that shaped their childhoods. Read the story on Spaces & Experiences' site.
U of T begins major shift to electric power at central steam plant
The university has installed two new electric boilers, reducing reliance on natural gas for heating the St. George campus and helping slash fossil fuel consumption by 75 per cent. See more here: Https://youtu.be/4d4QD3i5b9g?si=EodpwKh60dTexco5
U of T’s geoexchange system the ‘largest urban system of its kind’: CBC News
(photo courtesy of U of T Facilities and Services) Published: September 3, 2025 CBC News recently took a tour of Canada’s largest urban geoexchange system, a network of 372 U-shaped pipes that plunge 250 metres beneath the University of Toronto’s St. George campus. The system will soon carry warm air from nearby buildings, store it underground and circulate it back during the winter months, using the Earth as giant thermal battery and helping the university reduce emissions by as much as 17,000 tonnes. It can also be used for melting snow. “We're taking heat that we have in the summer – excess heat [...]
Update on Oak House residence move-in
Following an unexpected construction delay, students will be moving into Oak House, the newest student residence on U of T’s St. George campus, starting Sept. 6. Our top priorities are ensuring students’ comfort and academic success, and supporting their transition to U of T. Updates will continue to be posted on the Oak House FAQ page, and questions can also be directed to oakhouse.residence@utoronto.ca.
CBC TV: A Sustainable Future
Ron Saporta, chief operating officer, property services & sustainability, showcases the university’s underground geoexchange system, with comments from students Anastasia Polulyakhova of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering and Katie Hung of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry. (CBC TV)
CBC Radio Metro Morning: Ron Saporta, COO, explains our Geoexchange system
August 14, 2025: Ron Saporta, chief operating officer, property services & sustainability, explains how the university’s underground geoexchange system stores excess heat and reduces emissions. Listen now on CBC Radio's Metro Morning.
Celebrating a Decade of Excellence: OREP Hosts 10th Annual BBQ & Awards
(all photographs courtesy of Nicole Njagi, UofT Spaces & Experiences) On Tuesday, August 12, over 750 members of OREP gathered to celebrate a major milestone — the 10th Annual OREP BBQ & Awards. Marking a full decade of recognition and appreciation, this year’s event was not only the largest yet, but also a reflection of OREP’s unwavering commitment to acknowledging the extraordinary efforts of its staff. Once again, the BBQ brought together employees from across the portfolio for a lively celebration of service, collaboration, and community. Guests were treated to a feast of OREP BBQ favourites, including marinated steak and [...]
SVP Awards honour the Hazardous Construction Materials Group Manager, Irfan Miraj
A leader in his field, Miraj has been recognized for his expertise, communication skills, reliability and more. Congratulations, Irfan! (Photo by Donglin Que) Read more on the F&S website.