What should U of T’s St. George campus look like by 2040? 

The University of Toronto is launching a new long-term campus planning process to help guide how the St. George campus evolves over the next 15 years.

The 2040 Campus Plan process aims to ensure the nearly 200-year-old campus – where carefully conserved heritage buildings and new buildings serve as vibrant hubs of innovative ideas and groundbreaking discoveries – remains a dynamic, sustainable and an inclusive place well into the future. 

As a part of that effort, U of T is seeking the input of the community through a comprehensive engagement plan, including an online survey to help identify what matters most to the people who live, work and study at the university.

“Campus plans are essential tools to help set priorities and frameworks for future growth and change,” says Scott Mabury, U of T’s vice-president, operations and real estate partnerships.

Mabury points to the Landmark Project as an example of how thoughtful planning can shape the evolution of the St. George campus, making it more pedestrian-friendly, sustainable and accessible – goals that, since the 2011 St. George Campus Plan, have become key priorities for the community.  

“Our community members advocated for a greener, more accessible campus and the result was a complete transformation of the campus' downtown core,” Mabury says. “Surface parking is now replaced by a vibrant landscape with green spaces, new pathways, and improved accessibility – it’s a remarkable shift that has redefined how people experience our campus.”

Feedback from the Indigenous community at U of T and beyond also resulted in the Ziibiing space, which revitalized the Hart House Green with Indigenous landscape elements. By creating a meaningful space for ceremonies, outdoor education and gathering, Ziibiing reflects the university’s commitment to honoring Indigenous history and creating inclusive environments. 

As U of T looks ahead, Indigeneity, sustainability and accessibility will remain key priorities, Mabury added.

There will also be a renewed focus on how physical spaces can foster learning, collaboration and engagement.

“We see our campus as part of a broader ecosystem – not just within the university, but within the dynamic fabric of Toronto itself,” says Christine Burke, assistant vice-president, university planning.  “That's why it's important to gather input from everyone through our various outreach efforts, including the first survey – one of many that will be conducted throughout the process."

“We want the campus to evolve in a way where our community sees themselves reflected and feels a sense of belonging.”

In addition to the survey, U of T is launching visioning workshops that include students, faculty, staff and librarians, and a public life study to assess how people use key areas on campus throughout the year. 

The plan is scheduled to be completed in 2026, with feedback incorporated throughout the planning period and updates shared along the way.