Goodbye to cars!
U of T embarks on a bold plan to restore, renew and beautify the historic St. George campus By Arthur Kaptainis What was old will be new again. And what is new will be harmonized with the old. After months of study and public engagement, the Landscape of Landmark Quality competition has selected a consortium of KPMB Architects, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA) and Urban Strategies to restore, renew and beautify the central spaces of the University of Toronto’s historic St. George campus. “This was a difficult decision owing to the great imagination shown by the entrants,” says Scott Mabury, [...]
Mac and cheese gets fancy at U of T ‘smackdown’
Five campus chefs faced off at the University of Toronto’s annual mac-and-cheese ‘Smackdown.’ By: Jonathan Forani Staff Reporter, Toronto Star, Published on Wed Dec 09 2015 There’s no better way to bring a campus together than doling out the most stereotypically “student” meal you can think of — mac and cheese. But this isn’t your roommate’s Kraft Dinner Easy Mac. How about a pan-seared squid ink pasta topped with salmon and Sriracha pearls? Crushed chestnuts over three varieties of blue cheese? Or five kinds of mushrooms on asiago cheese? These were just three of the options at the University of Toronto’s Mac ‘N [...]
SeamlessMD raises $1.1 million from angel investors, BDC Capital, Funders Club
Dealing with post-surgery recovery can be stressful. But recent U of T grad Dr. Joshua Liu wants to ease that for patients. His company, SeamlessMD, helps people prepare for and recover from surgery using their mobile devices and home computers. And SeamlessMD is already getting a lot of attention from the likes of WIND Mobile founder Anthony Lacavera and BioWare co-founder Dr. Raymond Muzyka. Read more.
Dragons’ Den investors back U of T startup Adrenalease Inc.
Last week, recent U of T grad Noureddin Chahrour tamed three dragons on CBC's Dragons' Den ? securing a $90,000 investment in exchange for 30 per cent of his startup, Adrenalease Inc. Read more.
Software giant Autodesk moves into MaRS, sets up its largest office in the world
When alumnus Bill Buxton first worked on touchscreen technology, he could only imagine what his research would mean to the future of human-computer interfaces. Twenty years later, touchscreens are everywhere, as is Buxton's influence, including at multinational company Autodesk. Read more.
Buy Blue: University of Toronto becomes customer for student startups
How does 'Buy Blue' help student startup companies? By making U of T a customer. The university-wide initiative will encourage faculties and departments to become early adopters of products and services developed by U of T startups. Read more.
And the winner is…
On Tuesday, October 14th, the Munk School of Global Affairs at 315 Bloor Street West was honoured by Heritage Toronto as a winner in the William Greer Architectural Conservation and Craftsmanship category. This category honours owners who have undertaken projects to restore or adapt buildings or structures that have been in existence for forty years or more or are included on the City of Toronto’s Inventory of Heritage Properties. In addition to the quality of craftsmanship, appropriateness of materials, and the use of sound conservation principles, the jury considers how well the project meets current needs while maintaining the integrity of the [...]
How would you like to see U of T’s downtown campus transformed?
All are invited to view presentations, submit feedback to online survey Arthur Kaptainis (U of T Bulletin) Picture yourself here: U of T wants to know which of four design proposals you think would create the most pedestrian-friendly and welcoming environment (photo by Johnny Guatto) Which proposal best addresses the principle of improved pedestrian experience? Which best addresses the principle of enhanced green space? You can have your say on these and other central questions raised by the Landscape of Landmark Quality Innovative Design Competition. Four teams have submitted their ideas on how to revive and restore the historic core [...]
National Post: University of Toronto looks to rejuvenate its downtown campus ‘cluttered with traffic and parked cars’
In an effort to prioritize people over cars on its busy downtown campus, the University of Toronto unveiled four competing designs for a major architectural project. The effort to reclaim the central King’s College Circle from tour buses and delivery vans — and to “decant” it of parked cars, which is architecture speak for building underground parking — is likely to take years and cost millions. But the need is dire, university officials said at a public consultation Monday night. At its worst, King’s College Circle — which is roughly the same size as the more inviting provincial legislature grounds [...]
Landscape of Landmark Quality event draws hundreds to public viewing of plans for the St. George campus
Plans for St. George campus get public viewing Pedestrian-friendly ideas proliferate as four teams weigh in Arthur Kaptainis Four design teams unveiled proposals for transforming U of T's downtown campus. The rendering above is by MVVA/KPMB media; scroll down to see renderings by JRS Media, DTAH Media and Public Work media A pastoral pond in front of Hart House. An elevated walkway to Queen’s Park Crescent. Public art around King’s College Circle. A skating rink outside the J. Robert S. Prichard Alumni House. These are only a few of the improvements envisioned by the four design teams shortlisted in the [...]