Instructional Centre gives students state-of-the-art space and technology
The University of Toronto Mississauga today officially opened its Instructional Centre that boasts innovative teaching and study space, and positions the campus for future enrolment growth.
The $70-million three-storey facility received funding from both the federal and provincial governments. It includes a full range of state-of-the-art classrooms varying in size from 30 seats to a 500-seat auditorium, dedicated study space including collaborative and private rooms, and a 24/7 computer lab.
We are extremely grateful to the federal and provincial governments for investing in the needs of our students, says U of T president David Naylor. This innovative facility fosters creative and critical thinking and helps prepare our young people to make contributions in their chosen careers throughout their working lives. Our government partners are helping us make a significant difference in the student experience at U of T Mississauga.
The 13,000-square-metre Instructional Centre includes 27 classrooms equipped with up-to-date technology and equipment. The classrooms have flexible, e-connected spaces that use digital technology and tools, so students can actively participate in the learning-and-discovery process. In addition, the centre includes informal study areas such as lounges, a café and an outdoor patio where students can set up their laptops and mobile devices. A student plaza with plenty of outdoor seating connects the Instructional Centre and the Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre.
U of T Mississauga has doubled its enrolment over the past decade, so this new facility helps us accommodate current students and sets the stage for future growth, says Professor Deep Saini, vice-president of the University of Toronto and principal of U of T Mississauga. It also provides the tools and new forms of learning and communication our young people need in today's world. We are committed to providing opportunities for our students to excel and to become the leaders of tomorrow.
Located at the north end of the campus' Outer Circle Road, the Instructional Centre continues U of T Mississauga's commitment to environmentally responsible growth. Designed to LEED silver standards, the facility includes sustainable components such as a large array of photovoltaic panels, a green roof, a geothermal heating and cooling system located beneath the campus football field, and energy- and water-efficient lighting and fixtures.
Our government's investment in post-secondary infrastructure has given University of Toronto Mississauga's (UTM) students and faculty the facilities they need to continue to be global leaders in their fields, says Bob Dechert, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and MP (Mississauga-Erindale). I am excited at the thought of the tremendous contributions that the students trained here at UTM will make to the future of Mississauga, Canada and the world.
The Ontario Government is committed to improving education at every level in Mississauga. This investment at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus not only allows the campus to continue to grow, it also allows students to learn in modern state-of-the-art facilities, says Harinder Takhar, minister of government services and MPP for Mississauga-Erindale. By building this facility, the University of Toronto Mississauga will be able to attract the best and brightest students to study here.
The Instructional Centre, designed to complement the natural beauty of the campus and the surrounding buildings, has a pre-aged copper-clad exterior. A three-storey atrium provides light-filled study and meeting space. The building was designed by Shore Tilbe Perkins + Will and built by Eastern Construction.
CONTACT:
Jane Stirling
Marketing and Communications
U of T Mississauga
905-569-4350
jane.stirling@utoronto.ca
Nicolle Wahl
Marketing and Communications
U of T Mississauga
905-569-4656
nicolle.wahl@utoronto.ca