Fresh food, study pods and a new building: 5 things that are new and coming to UTM

As the U of T Mississauga community returns to campus this fall, there are some noteworthy changes that have taken place to improve the campus experience, boost sustainability and meet UTM’s growing academic and research needs.

The first big change students, staff, faculty and librarians are likely to notice is the new science building that’s scheduled to open later this fall. Those heading to the Meeting Place, meanwhile, will find a new selection of made-from-scratch items on the menu. And those looking for a quiet study spot will appreciate the new study pods.

Fresh, local food options

From Detroit-style pizza to homestyle preserves to giant cookies, UTM’s newest food provider, Dana Hospitality, is putting the focus on local, fresh food made from scratch. While brand favourites like Tim Hortons, Harvey’s and Starbucks are still on the menu, Dana Hospitality makes much of their non-branded items from scratch, sourcing ingredients locally. There’s “fresh and fast” packaged sandwiches and salads to go, soups with house-made stock and local ingredients, locally sourced meats and poultry, never-frozen mixed dishes and pizza made in-house with fresh sauce and popular ingredients. There’s even pickled and preserved items to buy and take home.

Leacock Lane revitalized

Students moving into the Leacock Lane residences will be getting some updated digs. The townhomes, which opened in 1985, have undergone a $8.5 million multi-year transformation following student consultations. The townhomes sport new roofs, windows, doors, floors, kitchens, bathrooms and even new multi-use furniture. Even the surroundings have been landscaped to breathe new life into the campus residence. The units are carpet-free with artfully-designed lighting both inside and out and have expanded storage spaces.

A number of sustainable elements have also been integrated, including double-pane windows to conserve energy, LED lighting for efficiency, energy-efficient appliances and low-flow plumbing fixtures to help conserve water.

UTM’s newest building

The new science building, located between the William G. Davis Building and the Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Complex, is scheduled to open this fall. It will provide much-needed wet laboratory space for the campus’s current and planned research needs. The five-level building will house the Centre for Medicinal Chemistry, which will be headquartered in the facility, the departments of biology and chemical and physical sciences, as well as the forensic science program. The 165,000 square feet facility will feature 31 laboratories, 16 of which will be for the Centre for Medicinal Chemistry, and a high-performance computing data centre.

The project will also contribute to UTM’s ongoing efforts to lower its net carbon emissions to zero by mid-century. The building is expected to use 65 per cent less energy than a conventional building. For most of its heating and cooling, it will use geothermal technology and rooftop solar photovoltaic panels. Interior features include LED lighting throughout and, in labs, fume hoods that require less energy to operate.

Individual study pods

Students looking for a quiet place to study or jump on a Zoom call should check out the new compact individual study pods located near the Meeting Place in the Davis Building or in Maanjiwe nendamowinan. These self-contained pods feature an ergonomic seating area for one, charging ports, a desk and a large, clear door that blocks out sounds outside.

Coming soon: a new hub for student services

The new Student Services Hub – a “first stop” for students seeking resources and opportunities – is scheduled to open on the main floor of the Davis Building later this year. Featuring a front desk, it will link students with experts within the Hub and across campus to help untangle complex issues and to find answers to their questions. The space will also include an expanded resource area for career exploration and other supports, a well-equipped activity/workshop room for student programs and events, a presentation area and a variety of spaces to meet with peer mentors, peer assistants and our professional staff.