#UofTBackToSchool: Davis renovation update
As the warm summer days roll on, construction continues at UTM.
Over the summer, crews continued demolition of the Meeting Place to make way for a new food services and meeting hub on campus. New hoarding is in place on the main stairs through the Recreation, Athletics and Wellness Centre (RAWC), and in the Temporary Food Court (TFC). Construction has begun on a new servery between the RAWC and the Davis Building. Construction is also underway on new washroom facilities adjacent to the TFC. The new facilities, which include expanded barrier-free accessible stalls and individual washrooms for all-gender use, are to open by spring 2019.
Outdoors, construction fences have been erected along the path near the front field to prepare for construction of new seating in the Meeting Place.
The second phase of the project, set to begin in 2019, will involve a revitalized entrance to the Davis Building, renovation of the TFC and a new indoor seating area behind the Tim Horton’s server. “When the servery is up and running in the Meeting Place, renovations will begin in the TFC to create additional seating and vending kiosks,” says Greg Karavelis, senior facilities planner with the Facilities, Management & Planning office. The new front entrance to the building will feature landscaping and an improved accessible ramp to the front doors. “The ramp will meander through a stepped seating area and it will be integrated as part of the overall design,” he says. The grading at the front entrance will be elevated to help reduce the length of the ramp. “It will be truly accessible,” says Stepanka Elias, director of operations, design and construction.
Through it all, diners on campus will have access to uninterrupted food services, plus new and expanded options for dining. In late August, the Second Cup location in the Instructional Centre will be replaced by Subway (relocated from the TFC), and a new second location of Quesada, a Mexican food eatery. “Quesada is the most popular food service on campus,” says Vicky Jezierski, director of Hospitality & Retail Operations. “It made a lot of sense to open a second location.” Those looking for a caffeine fix can visit a new “barista level” coffee machine in the Instructional Centre, or head to the new North Building, which will operate a coffee kiosk serving Doi Chang fair trade coffee and teas. The Booster Juice kiosk has moved from the TFC to the front entrance of the RAWC. According to Jezierski, a new crepes and waffles kiosk will open in the old Booster Juice spot in the TFC.