Health and Wellness Centre Renovation at Koffler

The University of Toronto (UofT) Health and Wellness Centre (HWC) will be situated within the iconic Koffler building at the northwest corner of College Street and St. George Street which marks the boundary of the UofT St. George campus as well as a gateway entrance. This transformative endeavor aims to revitalize the existing space to better serve the health and wellness needs of students and faculty.

Throughout the public spaces of the HWC, circular fixtures and skylights, complemented by an origami motif, create a harmonious atmosphere. The installation of a new elevator, seamlessly connects students to the newly designed primary care and mental health facilities within the building, enhancing overall accessibility and streamlining wayfinding.

The goals of the renovation are:

  • Increase the program area of the Centre

  • Support and enhance student experience through health promotion, wellness, and community, including access to daylight and views

  • Facilitate staff interaction between departments

  • Improve circulation and legibility for easy wayfinding

  • Improve accessibility into and within the building

  • Promote resiliency, sustainability, well-being and low carbon and energy solutions

  • Modernize the Centre

The project is currently in progress, with Enform Architects working diligently to bring this vision to life. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to refine and enhance the UofT Health and Wellness Centre at Koffler Centre, ensuring it becomes a beacon of holistic well-being for the University of Toronto community.

Heritage

The 214 College St. property is included on the City of Toronto Heritage Register and is designated Part IV under the Ontario Heritage Act. The building is three stories tall with a mezzanine floor and a basement level, with its principal façade along College Street. The original building was constructed in 1910, in the Beaux-Arts style, as the central reference library for the City of Toronto. The building was extended to the north in 1928. A modernist extension was added on the west side in 1959. In 1984, what was previously an external courtyard at the centre of the building was made into an atrium.

In-Progress

Status

Project Team

Principal-in-Charge: Alan Fraser; Lead Design Architect: Kevin Stelzer; Project Architect: Dylan Durst

Design: University of Toronto Design & Engineering

Structural & Building Envelope: Entuitive

Mechanical & Electrical: Smith + Andersen

Code: LMDG

Civil: MTE Consultants Inc.

Sustainability: Footprint

Landscape: HKLA Landscape Architects

Hardware Design: Upper Canada Specialty Hardware

Vertical Transportation: KJA

4,638 m2

Area of Work

Proposed Energy Metrics

Compliance Path: SB-10 + ASHRAE 2013

Total Energy Usage Intensity: 86 kWh/m2

Energy Reduction: 29%

Client

University of Toronto

Ground floor reception

The ground floor reception area serves as the primary point of entry into, ensuring easy wayfinding with a single entrance.

Second floor multipurpose room

Multi-purpose spaces will support and enhance student experience through health promotion, and enhance community engagement.

Primary care and mental health services on third floor

reception desk looking south

new ramp to address the 1.8m drop from the mental health and primary care areas

counseling corridor

Bridge

A new bridge will span the existing atrium space, connecting the reception area with the exam rooms, and creating a ramped barrier-free path access to address the changes in floor height