Ontario Tech University is entering its next phase of growth, with a focus on giving students more opportunities to learn by doing, connect with one another and make the most of campus life.

Following several years of sustained enrolment growth, the university is moving its Campus Master Plan into action through a connected series of academic, residential and student-experience projects. The plan advances a vision shared through the university’s town halls: a more welcoming, easy-to-navigate and engaging campus designed around people, with stronger connections between the places where students learn, gather and live.

Building for continued growth

At the centre of this next phase is a new academic building targeted for 2029. The building’s flexible, technology-enabled spaces will support experiential and career-connected learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world problem solving.

The building will occupy the current Founders Lot 2 area. By shifting vehicles toward the campus perimeter to introduce new pedestrian routes and easier-to-navigate public spaces, the project will create a welcoming gateway and stronger connections to key north-campus destinations, including Shawenjigewining Hall and the North Oshawa Campus Library.

“Experiential learning is a defining feature of an Ontario Tech University education,” says Dr. Lori Livingston, Provost and Vice-President, Academic. “This new building will create more opportunities for students to apply their knowledge, collaborate across disciplines and develop the skills they need to make an impact beyond the classroom.”

“This project is about transforming how people experience and engage with our campus,” says Dr. Steven Murphy, President and Vice-Chancellor. “By creating more people-focused spaces, we are strengthening connections between the places that make Ontario Tech University special. This building is the first major step toward a north campus where students can learn by doing, enjoy a truly connected campus and come together as one Ontario Tech community.”

Supporting a growing campus

Residential and student-experience infrastructure will grow alongside the university’s academic footprint, giving more students opportunities to live close to classes, participate in campus life and connect beyond the classroom.

The Ridge, a new student residence scheduled to open in Fall 2027, will add 450 beds in its first phase. The university is also planning a second residence, connected to the new academic building, that would add approximately 400 more beds.

A new destination for athletics, recreation and student life is also being created on Ontario Tech’s and Durham College’s shared north Oshawa campus. Anticipated to open in August 2028, the Campus High-Performance Complex will add more than 5,500 square metres (nearly 60,000 square feet) of new space to and renovate more than 800 square metres (approximately 9,000 square feet) within the Campus Ice Centre.

The High-Performance Complex will feature basketball and volleyball courts, integrated strength, conditioning and fitness areas, study and lounge spaces, and expanded food services in addition to the two ice pads. Designed for use throughout the full day, this building will create more capacity for varsity athletics, intramurals, fitness programming and campus events, while also supporting community programming and strengthening the shared campus as a destination for sport and recreation across Durham Region.

Media contact

Patricia Pickett
Communications and Marketing
905.809.1675
news@ontariotechu.ca

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