Construction on Campus

A film will be shooting on our campus on Thursday, July 4, and Friday, July 5, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on both days. 

• The filming will primarily focus on the Burwash quad, the Old Victoria Building (Alumni Hall, VC115, and VC101), and the Emmanuel College Library and hallways after hours (5 p.m. to 11 p.m.).
• Film trucks will occupy a significant portion of Charles Street, including over the weekend.
• Vic U signage will be temporarily covered and replaced with set pieces in exterior settings.
• A cinema drone unit will be flying through St. Mary’s Archway into a wide shot of the Quad above the Old Victoria Building on July 4, 2024, between 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Contact:

• On-site contact: Sarah Babra; 437-855-2336

The Toronto Jazz Festival will be happening on the Victoria University campus from Friday, June 21, 2024, to Sunday, June 30, 2024.

Utilization on campus for the festival will be concentrated in the Burwash Quad and the Old Victoria Building.

This is a free event, with full programming details and times available at Toronto Jazz Festival Schedule.

During this event, you may experience:

• Increased Traffic: Expect an increase of vendors and vehicles passing through the laneway between Burwash Dining Hall and the Isabel Bader Theatre.
• Festival Load-In and Load-Out: Load-in for the festival begins June 19, 2024, and load-out concludes July 2, 2024.
• Live Music: Increased live music will be heard between the hours of 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. on campus.
• Enhanced Security: Increased security will be present in the Burwash Quad to monitor the TD Jazz equipment. Vic Security will also continue to secure unoccupied buildings or restrict access after regular business hours due to high foot traffic from the event.

For more information, please contact Mayes Rihani, associate director, Major Capital Project Management and Planning

Starting June 3, Urbacon Building Group Inc. will begin onsite work on the Birge-Carnegie building as part of the Birge-Carnegie Building Revitalization project.

Work will take place Monday to Friday, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

After-hours work (5 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and weekend work will occur as needed.

The Birge-Carnegie Building is now a construction site and will be fully nonfunctional and inaccessible during the construction period.

If access is required, please contact Ronnie Kataki, project manager, Major Capital Project Management and Planning, three days in advance to coordinate access and safety requirements.

Need more information? Email Mayes Rihani, associate director, Major Capital Project Management and Planning.

During the construction work, you may experience:

• Interruptions: Expect noise, vibration, dust, odours and other inconveniences during working hours.
• Systems Shutdown: Systems serving the Birge-Carnegie Building may be temporarily shut down after hours or on weekends to facilitate new mechanical and electrical system connections.
• Contractor Access: Contractor personnel will enter through the main entrance of the Birge-Carnegie Building (north entrance from Charles Street) unsupervised throughout the duration of the project.

Project work includes:
Demolition and abatement, installation of new gypsum board walls and ceilings, custom woodwork, heritage restoration, new doors and windows, flooring, electrical and lighting updates, HVAC and plumbing work and enhancements to exterior lighting and landscaping.

The roof of the Upper Burwash Hall tower is being replaced. Contractors will be stationed primarily at the rear east corner of the building toward St. Mary’s Street and in front of the Upper Burwash archway.  

During this work, you may experience:  

• Service Interruptions: Periodic noise, vibration, dust and odours during working hours.     
• Scaffolding Setup: Construction workers will access the upper and lower roof at the front and rear east corner through exterior scaffolding. 
• Overhead Protection: Overhead construction hoarding will be placed over the front and rear entrances of the archway for public safety.  
• Residence Access: Construction workers will not enter the residence unsupervised. 
• Archway Access: The pedestrian archway leading to St. Mary’s Street will remain open to the public. 

 The contractors will work every day 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.    

A High Table accessibility ramp is being installed in the Burwash Dining Hall. The High Table is closed until September. The project will include:

• Demolition of the north section of the high table platform to accommodate the new ramp and railings. 
• Structural reinforcement to the ceiling in the basement kitchen area under new ramp. 
• Installation of an automatic door operator to the north door into the Common Room. 
• Sanding and varnishing the floor on the High Table platform

During the construction, you may experience: 

• Periodic noise, vibration, dust, odours and other inconveniences. 
• A temporary construction safety barricade wall between the dining hall and the area of construction 
• Temporary tools/equipment in hallways with protective barriers 
  Frequent access and deliveries through the front and rear entrances/exits. 
• Temporary disposal bins stationed at various locations around the building

Construction will take place Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Some weekend and off-hours work may be required.

Bedroom and hallway flooring is being replaced in the Upper Burwash Hall residence (North House). This site will not be accessible while the work is being done. Contractors will work Monday to Friday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., although weekends and off-hours may be required.

• Noise, vibration, dust, odours and other inconveniences may occur during construction.
• Tools and equipment may be found temporarily in suites and hallways, which may be blocked by protective barriers.
• There will be frequent access and deliveries through the front and rear entrances/exits.

The last staff and faculty still working in Birge-Carnegie are packing boxes and preparing to move out so the building can undergo a major revitalization. Final classes have been held in Classroom B-20. Faculty and staff—Communications, Library and IT—will relocate while the work is taking place. For safety reasons, only contractors and project staff can access the building until the work is finished.

The Communications team will be working from home, starting Monday, April 29. The team will come back to campus when needed to take photographs, cover events or provide other communications support, so just email us or send us a message on Teams if you need us. Communications will move into the Northrop Frye Building in some of the space now occupied by the Office of the Registrar and Academic Advising.

IT can be reached via email at vicu.its@utoronto.ca. Joe Lim, director of Information and Technology Services, and Min Zhu can also be found in Northrop Frye Room 308 while Martin Atahue will be in E.J. Pratt Library.

Starting March 19, 2024, the second floor of the east wing, including the Regent's Foyer and the Regent's Room, will be closed. 
 
The Goldring Student Centre's first and third floors and main entrance will be fully functional and accessible during the construction work. 
 
Construction will occur Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. After-hours work will take place from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., and weekends will be utilized as needed for tasks in occupied areas, noisy activities and service shutdowns.
 
During the construction work, you may experience: 

• Interruptions: Occupants may experience noise, vibration, dust, odours, and other inconveniences during working hours. 
• Systems Shutdown: Ventilation serving the Goldring Student Centre may be temporarily shut down after hours or on weekends with prior notice to facilitate mechanical and electrical system connections. 
• Contractor Access: Contractors will enter through the main entrance of the Goldring Student Centre unsupervised throughout the duration of the project. The contractor is permitted to use the elevator for delivery of construction materials to the second and third floors.

Questions? 
If you have questions about the upcoming work, please contact:  
Mayes Rihani
Associate Director, Major Capital Project Management and Planning 
647-401-6701   
mayes.rihani@utoronto.ca