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Construction is underway on the\u00a0Student Wellbeing Centre<\/a> at\u00a0Toronto Metropolitan University<\/a>, following a ground breaking ceremony held earlier this month. The $42-million development will pair a new eight-storey hybrid mass timber structure with the restored heritage-listed O\u2019Keefe House, creating a dedicated home for student wellness, academic, and health-related services. Designed by\u00a0Hariri Pontarini Architects<\/a>, the centre is intended to bring together services previously scattered across the university\u2019s downtown footprint.<\/p>\n Among those present for the event were TMU President Mohamed Lachemi, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Vijay Thanigasalam, Chancellor Donette Chin-Loy Chang, and Principal Architect Siamak Hariri. The event also featured contributions from student emcee Kien Azinwi and Provost Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, who spoke to the need for accessible support on campus.<\/p>\n The project is located at the intersection of Bond and Gould streets in the heart of TMU\u2019s campus. At its core is the mid-19th-century O\u2019Keefe House, a heritage-listed former student residence, with its preservation overseen by\u00a0EVOQ Architecture Inc.<\/a> The contemporary structure will wrap around the historic home, allowing the past and present to coexist while maximizing buildable area on the compact urban lot.<\/p>\n The new eight-storey tower will feature a hybrid mass timber structure and a fritted glass facade along its north and west elevations. A vertical sequence of cantilevered glass elements and landscaped terraces, dubbed the \u2018Tree of Well-being,\u2019 will rise through the centre of the building, complemented by exposed timber and warm materials. \u201cConfiguring these program relationships for visibility, security, and accessibility was critical to making the building welcoming and supportive of the privacy of individuals,\u201d said Hariri.<\/p>\n Sustainable strategies, such as a green roof, support the project’s Fitwel 2-star certification target and aim to reduce embodied carbon. The design also incorporates Indigenous knowledge and placemaking principles, developed in partnership with\u00a0Two Row Architect<\/a> and informed by Elder Duke Redbird\u2019s Food Forest Teachings.<\/p>\n Currently dispersed across TMU\u2019s 42 downtown buildings, student support services that will be brought together under one roof include medical care, mental health services, academic support, tri-mentoring, health promotion programs, and Consent Comes First, the university\u2019s support office for those affected by gender-based violence. The design prioritizes a home-like feel, offering areas for group counselling and casual student interaction.<\/p>\n The project is largely funded through a student-approved health and wellbeing fee, introduced following a 2022 referendum. \u201cThe Student Wellbeing Centre is at the heart of our vision for well-being supports and services on campus,\u201d said Lachemi. \u201cIt is no coincidence that our students have led the support for this project because at TMU, our students have a track record of being drivers of change.\u201d The building reflects a grassroots push by the student body to prioritize mental health and accessible support.<\/p>\n Rising 34.38m with one level below grade, the facility is scheduled for completion in 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you’d like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n UrbanToronto has a research service,\u00a0UTPro<\/a>, that provides comprehensive data on development projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe \u2014 from proposal through to completion. We also offer\u00a0Instant Reports<\/a>, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter,\u00a0New Development Insider<\/a>, that tracks projects from initial application.<\/p>\n <\/imgx><\/imgx><\/imgx><\/div>\n