We’ve arrived! After a few delays and much anticipation, the School of the Environment’s faculty, staff, and students have moved into their new home. The project expanded the School’s footprint at the Earth Sciences Centre and provided much needed study and community space for all students at U of T with the creation of the new Earth Hub. “It was so important to have a space where we could all exist and collaborate. To have a central environmental hub. There were many iterations, but I am thrilled with what we were able to accomplish. And there are still a couple of surprises in store,” said Steve Easterbrook, director of the School of the Environment.
The administrative offices at 33 Willcocks Street were renovated to include additional office space. However, the biggest changes were at 5 Bancroft Avenue. The School now has a home for appointed faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and teaching assistants. Room 1042 was upgraded with new technology and furniture and will serve as a multi-functional space for seminars, meetings, student groups, and events.
Additionally, there is dedicated space for Master of Environment and Sustainability students. “Having a dedicated space for our MES students was top of our wish list and there is room to accommodate more MES students as we grow enrollment,” said Easterbrook.
While most of the renovation is completed there is more to come. The Earth Hub, funded by the Provost's Student Space Enhancement Fund, is available to all students, regardless of division or campus of enrolment and contributes to student health and wellbeing. "Our community is thrilled to be back at the Earth Sciences Centre. And we're looking forward to welcoming students to work and study in the Earth Hub," said Meghan Sbrocchi, department manager at the School of the Environment.
A mural will complement the new furniture in the Earth Hub and complete the space. The School has commissioned Andre Forsythe. Andre launched the School for Climate to empower artists to convey what a vision rooted in climate justice looks like. What a different cultural story feels like, and the role each community and industry can play in bringing that reality to fruition.
The School of the Environment looks forward to sharing the new space with the community.