This year marks the 50th anniversary of UTM’s opening. What began as a single-building campus called Erindale College is now the second-largest campus at U of T. Its rapid growth from 155 students in 1967 to 13,500 undergraduates in 2017 strained a number of aspects of student life, including the ability to find available study spaces on campus.
Luckily, with three new buildings opening in the last six years with study spaces integrated in their design, it’s become easier to find a place to sit down and hit the books. Thankfully, there are finally more options than just the library.
Deerfield Hall
Opened in 2014, Deerfield Hall boasts conference rooms that hold 8–24 people, as well as lecture halls and classrooms available to book for those times when you want to study with 100 of your closest classmates. The main level has a mix of individual and communal study spaces, and the Northside Bistro is only a few steps away.
Instructional Centre
The Instructional Centre has collaborative and private study spaces, as well as a computer lab and 500-seat auditorium. There’s a small computer lab area on the second level and casual seating on the main level, if you don’t mind working in noisier environments. The building has a geothermal heating and cooling system, a green roof, a rainwater system, and is run on solar power energy. Its relaxed atmosphere should provide you with the peace of mind to get through your paper.
Innovation Complex
Home to multiple offices, departments, and units, including the Office of the Registrar, the Innovation Complex opened in 2014 and was partially funded by a $10 million investment over 10 years by the City of Mississauga. The main rotunda is always bustling with students, but it’s a great place to meet with others for collaborative work in one of the more unique spaces on campus. Study breaks can include stepping into the Blackwood Gallery across the hall to engage with contemporary art, or grabbing a drink and snack at Second Cup.