New design of U of T Mississauga 400-bed residence revealed

A new design for the University of Toronto Mississauga campus residence came forward this week.

UTM is planning to add a new 400-bed residence in 2026, bringing the total number of students housed on campus to approximately 2,000, a UTM spokesperson tells insauga.com.

“If approved by University of Toronto governance this fall, this new building will help UTM continue to meet its student housing guarantee for first-year students seeking residence,” the spokesperson said.

The project is part of the 2021 UTM Campus Master Plan.

UTM selected Toronto’s Montgomery Sisam Architects and Denmark’s Christensen & Co. Architects to design the residence.

Montgomery Sisam Architects designed the new Sheridan College Hazel McCallion Campus in Mississauga, and the University of Toronto’s Koffler Scientific Reserve, among many others.

The first design of the residence was revealed in early 2021.

The first design of the residence came in early 2021 and featured an angular design on the exterior.

But the new design is softer with wave-like curves.

Inside, the building will have a variety of shared spaces in addition to student housing, according to a story in Canadian Architect. There will be small meet-up areas, and larger atrium-sized common rooms for larger gatherings and events.

Plans for the ground floor include a music room, games room, laundry facility and event hall, according to Urban Toronto. The upper storeys will have student bedrooms, shared washroom facilities, common lounge areas, and study rooms.

The building design includes wood and copper-toned aluminum “designed to shimmer in the sun,” Urban Toronto notes.

The 2021 UTM Campus Master Plan also includes a flexible outdoor campus commons; the revitalization of the existing Academic Annex site with a landmark building and new plaza; the creation of an academic quad and cultural commons; and new cycling infrastructure.

The master plan puts the new residence in the southwest end of the campus.

For more on the master plan, see the website here.