Project Recovery Solution Enables TMU to Deliver New Facility

Reaching new heights

Toronto’s downtown core is a vibrant, bustling hub for many college and university students. For universities looking to expand or develop new facilities, however, space is a hot commodity. With limited land assets and increasing enrolment, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) needed to grow its campus vertically.

The Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex (DCC) located at 288 Church Street stands 29 storeys tall and offers 270,000 sq. ft. of mixed-use space. The DCC campus brings together four of the Faculty of Community Services’ schools as well as the Creative School’s Design and Technology Lab. The multifunctional hub is designed to welcome students by blending elements of living and learning through its integrated residential tower, administrative offices and academic podium.

Aligning with Canada’s sustainability goals, the DCC incorporates low environmental-impact materials and uses significantly less energy and potable water than traditionally constructed buildings. DCC is truly an embodiment of Toronto Metropolitan University’s vision to deliver a high-quality, urban campus that prioritizes health and wellbeing, while also fostering collaborative, interdisciplinary research, learning and creative activities.

Recovery solutions

TMU broke ground on the project in 2015 and although construction was well underway by 2018, the project team faced various challenges that threatened its ability to deliver the campus – and in turn, student accommodations – on schedule. As enrollment numbers grew, it was imperative that the project reach substantial performance before the 2019 Fall term.

The university engaged our project managers to identify a recovery solution that could realign the remaining work with the beginning of the 2019 Fall term. We worked in collaboration with the university’s Campus Development team to realign the project’s governance and delivery structures while supporting the university in presenting to their board members. The entire project team’s (the university, consultants, construction manager and trades) commitment to collaborate and deliver this important project was the key to success. Our project managers guided and supported the team in the final stages of construction, approvals and certifications.

Welcoming students

TMU welcomed students to DCC’s academic and residential facilities in August 2019. The vibrant downtown campus continues to stand tall, embedding itself into Toronto’s vibrant cityscape and giving students the opportunity to experience the best of downtown living.