Toronto’s burgeoning innovation district – home to hundreds of researchers, entrepreneurs and innovation-minded partners – is poised to undergo a dramatic expansion.
The University of Toronto has confirmed plans to build a new innovation centre at the corner of College Street and University Avenue, directly across the street from the MaRS Discovery District and up the road from several of the country’s top research hospitals.
Part of a longer-term development plan, the first phase of the project will consist of a 14-storey tower that proposes to house U of T Entrepreneurship, the Innovations & Partnerships Office and the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
The gently sloping tower, which will replace the western portion of the Banting and Best complex, will also devote half of its 250,000 square feet of floor space to startup companies and established corporate partners who want to be closer to U of T’s cutting-edge research. It’s expected to be completed in 2021.
“The University of Toronto has played a key role in the GTA’s emergence as a global centre for innovation,” said U of T President Meric Gertler.
“In fields ranging from artificial intelligence to regenerative and precision medicine, our world-class researchers and students continue to have a profound impact on innovation and entrepreneurship in the Toronto region.”
Toronto’s burgeoning innovation district – home to hundreds of researchers, entrepreneurs and innovation-minded partners – is poised to undergo a dramatic expansion.
The University of Toronto has confirmed plans to build a new innovation centre at the corner of College Street and University Avenue, directly across the street from the MaRS Discovery District and up the road from several of the country’s top research hospitals.
Part of a longer-term development plan, the first phase of the project will consist of a 14-storey tower that proposes to house U of T Entrepreneurship, the Innovations & Partnerships Office and the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
The gently sloping tower, which will replace the western portion of the Banting and Best complex, will also devote half of its 250,000 square feet of floor space to startup companies and established corporate partners who want to be closer to U of T’s cutting-edge research. It’s expected to be completed in 2021.
“The University of Toronto has played a key role in the GTA’s emergence as a global centre for innovation,” said U of T President Meric Gertler.
“In fields ranging from artificial intelligence to regenerative and precision medicine, our world-class researchers and students continue to have a profound impact on innovation and entrepreneurship in the Toronto region.”
A rendering of U of T's new innovation centre (white buildings, at left) on the corner of College Street and University Avenue, once both phases are complete
This article was first published on U of T News