The governing council of the University of Toronto has approved plans for a recreation complex featuring a 5,000-seat stadium, playing field and track that will revitalize the former Varsity Stadium site at Bloor Street and Devonshire Place.
Institutional construction
The governing council of the University of Toronto has approved plans for a recreation complex featuring a 5,000-seat stadium, playing field and track that will revitalize the former Varsity Stadium site at Bloor Street and Devonshire Place.
The university said construction of the seating, field and track is expected to be completed by fall of next year, following development of a master plan for the site. The regulation-size playing field will accommodate soccer, football and other sports.
The surrounding eight-lane track will serve as both a training and competitive venue.
These amenities, to cost approximately $16 million, represent the first phase of a $56-million complex envisioned as a versatile centre of physical activity.
Toronto-based Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc. in association with Ellerbe Becket of the United States will provide consulting services for the Varsity Centre complex.
Subsequent phases that are proposed will include a bubble-like, air-supported structure installed over the playing field in winter months and a three- or four-storey building at the south end of the site to accommodate indoor training, research, teaching and support spaces in addition to renovations to Varsity Arena.
The university said the bubble will be able to accommodate three activities simultaneously, providing much-needed activity space for varsity and intramural teams and community use.
Subject to funding availability and approvals, the entire development could be completed by fall of 2008.
No stranger to the university campus, Diamond Schmitt recently completed the award-winning Bahen Centre for Information Technology and the Morrison Pavilion addition to the Gerstein Science and Information Centre.
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