Anishnaabe painter Que Rock has been selected as the artist for the Daniels Mural Project by the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design for its inaugural Indigenous installation. The selection was announced on Sept. 30, 2021 during an event commemorating Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at the Daniels Buildings' Stantec Architecture Courtyard, located at 1 Spadina Ave.. 

The temporary mural by Que Rock, who is a member of Nipissing First Nation, will honour the 215 children discovered at a residential school in Kamloops, B.C., and the unmarked graves that continue to be discovered across Turtle Island. Using the Daniels Building’s north façade as a canvas, the work depicts a sun on its left — representing the Seven Grandfather Teachings of humility, courage, honesty, wisdom, truth, respect and love — while its right features Grandmother Moon, representing the connection to Turtle Island, the water nation and Mother Earth. At the mural’s centre, children are carried by eagles to the spirit world; the eagles carry fish for the healing journey. 

“My goal is to portray the teachings of my ancestors, sacred geometry and Laws of Nature in all my art forms,” says Que Rock. The goal, for the Daniels Mural Project, “is a visual healing experience.” 

Que Rock describes his street art-inspired style as “making the woodlands dance.” In his large-scale art projects and canvas work — which include mural projects with StreetARTToronto (StART), a visual land acknowledgement at the St. Lawrence Centre of Arts and a medicine wheel-inspired work for the Toronto Transit Commission’s Ride Guide — the artist incorporates Anishnaabe teachings with a unique style that blends abstract forms with realism and expressionism.  

“The mural project is an important step in our continuous process towards collectively answering the calls of Truth and Reconciliation as a University, a Faculty and as individuals,” says Professor Juan Du, Dean of Daniels Faculty. “Que Rock’s artwork will be a visible reminder that every child matters, and that there is much work to be done in the path to healing. The Daniels Faculty seeks to promote dialogue and to generate better understanding of previously overlooked histories and cultures. We look forward to using the north façade of the Daniels Building as a platform for further education and programming this year.” 

The Daniels Mural Project is part of U of T’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report, Answering the Call: Wecheehetowin, responding specifically to Call to Action no. 2, a strategy for the funding and placement of more Indigenous public art across all three campuses in close consultation with local Indigenous communities. It will be produced in partnership with the University of Toronto Post-Secondary Fund for Aboriginal Learners.

Proposals were received from an open call issued by the Daniels Faculty in collaboration with the Daniels Art Directive, a student-led art collective, and Elder Whabagoon, the First Peoples Leadership Advisor to the Dean. The submissions were reviewed by the Indigenous Advisory Panel — comprised of a group of Indigenous Daniels community members including James Bird, Melissa Deleary, Jaime Kearns, Robin Rice and Brenda Wastasecoot. 

“Indigenous artists do the hard work of bringing our stories to life to be shown and seen by the world,” says the Indigenous Advisory Panel’s Brenda Wastasecoot. “They tell our histories, our truths and speak to our wisdom and strength.” 

Visible day and night, the mural encourages community members to engage with the history of the land and Indigenous teachings. “We're thankful to connect with the stories and cultural knowledge shared by Que Rock, the Advisory Panel, Elder Whabagoon, and many more Indigenous community members,” says the Daniels Art Directive’s Michelle Ng. “As this project grows, we further commit to truth and reconciliation.” 

Press inquiries: sara.elhawash@daniels.utoronto.ca

On Sept. 30, the Daniels Faculty will hold an event to commemorate the survivors of residential schools and their families. The commemoration will have in-person and online components; as it coincides with Orange Shirt Day and the newly created National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), we encourage all community members to wear an orange shirt in honour of Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation member Phyllis Webstad’s story. 

In the spirit of reconciliation and healing, we have also prepared resources that urge our community to support the ongoing process of reconciliation — and to acknowledge that every child matters. Here’s how the Daniels Faculty will commemorate Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021. 

The Daniels Faculty’s event for Orange Shirt Day and NDTR 

If you’re on campus on Sept. 30, an Orange Shirt Day item will be distributed at the east and west doors of the Daniels Building starting at 8:30 a.m. These will be available until the start of the event at 2 p.m. 

At that time, community members, led by Dean Juan Du and First Peoples Leadership Advisor to the Dean Elder Whabagoon, will congregate at the Stantec Architecture Courtyard — outside the Daniels Building at the north façade patio — for brief remarks. Next, a moment of silence will be observed at 2:15 p.m. in memory of the 215 bodies found at a residential school in Kamloops, B.C., and the discoveries that continue to be made across Turtle Island. 

The event will conclude with the announcement of the artist for the Daniels Mural Project, as selected by the Faculty’s Indigenous Advisory Panel. A new vision for north façade will be unveiled as part of the Daniels Faculty’s response to the U of T Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action; particularly, it responds to Call to Action No. 2, a strategy for the funding and placement of more Indigenous public art across all three campuses in close consultation with local Indigenous communities. 

Observing a moment of silence 

For those unable to join us in person, we encourage you to take a moment of silence at 2:15 p.m. with your class or by yourself to honour the healing journey of the residential school survivors, their families and their communities. 

The Daniels Faculty’s virtual background for Orange Shirt Day and NDTR 

If you’re learning or working remotely, we have developed a virtual background that can be used on Zoom or Microsoft Teams. When using these backgrounds on either app, please uncheck “mirror my video.” Click the thumbnail below for a full-sized image.

 

Resources for the Daniels Faculty community 

For more information on Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, please see the following resources. The National Residential Schools Crisis Line can be accessed at 1-866-925-4419. 

Digital resources 

• Assembly of First Nations Toolkit 

• Indigenous U of T 

• Hart House Events 

• About Orange Shirt Day 

• Canadian Residential School History 

• Residential School Timeline 

• U of T’s Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action 

Book and print resources 

• The Orange Shirt Story by Phyllis Webstad 

• Fatty Legs: A True Story by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton 

• Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciation by Monique Gray Smith 

• Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools by Theodore Fontaine 

• 7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga by David Alexander Robertson 

• Pathways of Reconciliation: Indigenous and Settler Approaches to Implementing the TRC's Calls to Action by Aimée Craft and Paulette Regan 

Video and films 

• You Are on Indian Land (Michael Kanentakeron, 1969) 

• Mother of Many Children (Alanis Obomsawin, 1977) 

• Sisters & Brothers (Kent Monkman, 2015) 

The John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design is excited to present its public programming for fall 2021.  

Through a series of book talks, panel discussions and lectures, our aim is to foster a meaningful dialogue on the important social, political and environmental challenges that confront our world today. How might we create new knowledge and leverage it as a tool for critical reflection and, ultimately, collective change? Our programs, and the difficult questions that motivate them, address a range of topics that are central to what we do: the relationship between the built and natural environment, land and sovereignty, the city and social justice, technology and building practice and resiliency and climate change, among others.  

Fall 2021 marks a period of new beginnings for the Daniels Faculty. As we embark on this academic year, we also reflect on our role as an institution for learning and knowledge creation. To this, we are supplementing our events with exhibitions that similarly probe at the boundaries of our various disciplines. Whether in the Architecture and Design Gallery, our corridors, or the north façade of the Daniels Building, the work on view this year asks: how do we engage with the world as it is at this moment?  

All events are free and open to the public. Register in advance and check the calendar for up-to-date details on hybrid events that offer a virtual and in-person experience: daniels.utoronto.ca/events.  

Fall 2021  

October 7, 6:30 p.m. 
How...?: Ten Questions on the Future of Education and Engagement
Dean’s Opening Dialogue  

Juan Du (Daniels Faculty Dean and Professor, University of Toronto), in conversation with: 
Shashi Kant (Forestry 1996; Professor of Forest Economics and Sustainability, University of Toronto)   
Kaari Kitawi (Landscape Architecture 2015; Urban Designer, City of Toronto)  
Bruce Kuwabara (Architecture 1972; Architect and Founder, KPMB Architects)  
Yan Wu (Visual Studies 2015; Public Art Curator, City of Markham) 
 
How...? Ten Questions on the Future of Advocacy and Change 
Exhibition – Thesis Projects in Architecture, Forestry, Landscape Architecture, Urbanism and Visual Studies 

Oct. 14, 12 p.m.  
Natural Architecture — An Archeology of the Future 
Lina Ghotmeh, 2021-2022 Frank O. Gehry International Visiting Chair in Architectural Design 

Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m. 
Robots as Companions 
Sougwen Chung (Artist, New York) 
Madeline Gannon (Artist, Researcher, Pittsburgh)  
Moderated by Maria Yablonina (University of Toronto, Daniels Faculty) 

Oct. 25, 1 p.m.  
Shared Space, Shared Vision, Shared Power: Advancing Racial Justice in American Cities 
Stephen Gray (Harvard University, Graduate School of Design) 
Co-moderated by Fadi Masoud and Michael Piper (University of Toronto, Daniels Faculty) 

Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m. 
Book Talk: Barry Sampson: Teaching + Practice  
Editors:  
Annette LeCuyer (University of Buffalo, School of Architecture and Planning) 
Brian Carter (University of Buffalo, School of Architecture and Planning) 
 
Contributors: 
George Baird (University of Toronto, Daniels Faculty)
Bruce Kuwabara (KPMB Architects) 
Jon Neuert (Baird Sampson Neuert Architects) 
Pina Petricone (University of Toronto, Daniels Faculty) 
Brigitte Shim (University of Toronto, Daniels Faculty)   
Nader Tehrani (The Cooper Union, The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture) 
 
Speakers: 
Stephen Bauer (Reigo & Bauer)   
Geoffrey Turnbull (KPMB Architects)   
Novka Cosovic (Bau & Cos Studio) 

Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m.  
Artist Talk with Que Rock 
Que Rock (Artist) 

Nov. 15, 12 p.m.  
Revisiting the Commons 
Kofi Boone (North Carolina State University, College of Design) 
Co-moderated by Liat Margolis and Fadi Masoud (University of Toronto, Daniels Faculty) 

Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m.  
Book Talk: Terra-Sorta-Firma  
Editor: Fadi Masoud (University of Toronto, Daniels Faculty) 
Contributors:
Luna Khirfan (University of Waterloo, School of Planning)  
Xiaoxuan Lu (The University of Hong Kong, Division of Landscape Architecture)  
Ben Mendelsohn (Portland State University, Film and Digital Culture)  
Michael T. Wilson (RAND Corporation) 
Moderated by Brent D. Ryan (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)  

Nov. 30, 12 p.m.  
Book Talk: Landscape Citizenships  
Editors: 
Dr. Tim Waterman (The Bartlett School of Architecture, Faculty of the Built Environment) 
Jane Wolff (University of Toronto, Daniels Faculty) 
Dr. Ed Wall (University of Greenwich, Landscape Architecture and Urbanism) 

Learn more about News and Events and Exhibitions, follow along with the Faculty on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and sign-up for This Week @ Daniels to receive current information on upcoming events. 

Welcome and acknowledgment

Welcome to the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design at the University of Toronto! I wish to acknowledge this land on which the University of Toronto operates. For thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

The vision for our Faculty

The Daniels Faculty is diverse and dynamic, hosting nearly 20 academic programs, and home to 2,000 students, staff and faculty members from around the world. With the recent joining of U of T’s forestry programs, we continue to advance innovations in teaching and learning by bridging the studies of the built and natural environment. We ask, what happens when we position our design and research by approaching the world as it is, as one environment? More importantly, how could we generate new knowledge and leverage it as a tool for critical reflection, and ultimately, societal change?

I look forward to fostering thoughtful dialogues both on and off campus, as we seek the common ground that is fundamental to addressing urgent social, political and environmental challenges. There is exciting potential for further interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations across the University — as well as with communities in Toronto and around the world. As we embark on a new academic year, there is no better time to reflect on our role as an institution for learning, discovery and knowledge creation.

The evolution of our school

The University began as a royal chartered King's College in 1827. Seeking secularization and independence, it became the nondenominational University of Toronto in 1850. The study of the built and natural environments are well-established fields of academic inquiries within the University. In fact, the Daniels Faculty hosts both Canada’s first architecture program, established in 1890, and the country’s first forestry faculty in 1907 — both early programs across North America as well.

Today, the University of Toronto has evolved into one of the world’s top research-intensive universities. And the Daniels Faculty is now an unparalleled centre for learning and research, with graduate programs in architecture, forestry, landscape architecture, urban design and visual studies — as well as unique undergraduate programs that use architectural studies and visual studies as a lens through which students may pursue a broad, liberal arts-based education.

The purpose of our institution

The University and our Faculty have evolved, but it is worth remembering that they have always aspired to both intellectual and societal pursuits. I would like to share a statement of purpose published by the University’s Governing Council in 1992, for I found it to be deeply inspirational and acutely relevant as we move forward within a world with ever-increasing complexity. It reinforces the fundamental principles of our teaching, learning, research and services.

Within the unique university context, the most crucial of all human rights are the rights of freedom of speech, academic freedom and freedom of research. And we affirm that these rights are meaningless unless they entail the right to raise deeply disturbing questions and provocative challenges to the cherished beliefs of society at large and of the university itself. It is this human right to radical, critical teaching and research with which the University has a duty above all to be concerned; for there is no one else, no other institution and no other office, in our modern liberal democracy, which is the custodian of this most precious and vulnerable right of the liberated human spirit.

An invitation to participate

This statement is a reminder to our community of the responsibilities we share. Today, critical teaching and research must confront pressing social and environmental problems — issues that, in our globalizing world, impact everyone. Those problems, and the necessary solutions, transcend disciplinary and national borders. We are also reminded to cherish our individual uniqueness — cultural, political, social, racial, gender — and to recognize our common pursuit of human purpose in a shared global environment.

We invite you to join us in this humanist pursuit, through learning in classrooms, researching in labs, participating in our online and in-person public programs and working together in our communities at home and abroad.

Juan Du (she/her)
Dean and Professor
John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design

Excerpt from the “Statement of Institutional Purpose,” University of Toronto Governing Council, Oct. 15, 1992. 

The Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design is pleased to announce the 2021-2022 Frank Gehry International Visiting Chair in Architectural Design is Paris-based, Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh.

Drawing inspiration from her lived experience growing up in Beirut, Ghotmeh approaches architecture as an “archaeology of the future” through her multidisciplinary, research-driven practice Lina Ghotmeh –– Architecture.

“We are extremely honoured and excited that Lina Ghotmeh will be joining us as our 2021-2022 Gehry Chair,” says Vivian Lee, director of the Daniels Faculty’s Master of Architecture program. “Her studio is a leading voice in the field, merging research of sustainable practices, typological play, local craft, and archeological inspirations into reality. Whether it’s in a rural or urban setting, the work of her studio is tactile,  scenographic, and engaged with its context. Lina’s projects are somehow old and new all at once, timeless but also essential to the current moment.”

During her appointment as Gehry Chair, Ghotmeh will lead a yearlong research studio for third-year Master of Architecture students. Additional public events will be announced in the fall. 

"It is with enthusiasm and excitement that I join the Faculty as a Gehry Chair, bridging between continents as a French architect of a Lebanese upbringing working with you in Toronto," says Lina Ghotmeh. "In our rapidly changing times, architecture as a space of diversity and cross-cultural hybrid thought is an essential platform for rethinking the way we relate and inhabit our world. I am eager to both share my experience and embody your lens to the world."

Over the course of two semesters, Ghotmeh’s studio, entitled “Potent Voids,” will examine the August 4, 2020, explosion and subsequent devastation at the port of Beirut as a post-traumatic landscape.

Ghotmeh writes: “While invoking a potent void, such landscapes solicit notions of time, memory and material. They hold a potential for change. They also bring with them new questions and invite us to think of other substantial ways of making and inhabiting our environment.”

Image credits: Estonian National Museum, photo by Takuji Shimmura; Hermès Workshops; Réalimenter Masséna.

Born in Beirut in 1980, Ghotmeh received the first prize for the Estonian National Museum Competition in 2006, just three years after graduating with distinction from the American University of Beirut. Her works are known for their symbiotic relationship to their environment – including “Réalimenter Masséna,” a wooden tower in Paris dedicated to sustainable feeding, and “Stone Garden Housing” in Beirut, where craft is at the heart of the building’s making.

Among other projects, her studio is currently designing and leading the construction of the new Hermès Manufacture, a passive building in Normandy, and the urban rehabilitation of the iconic Maine Montparnasse grounds in Paris.

Ghotmeh has lectured internationally: she previously taught at the Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture and currently teaches at Yale School of Architecture. She is copresident of the RST ARCHES Scientific Network and the recipient of multiple awards, including the 2020 Tamayouz “Woman of Outstanding Achievement” Award; the French Fine Arts Academy Cardin Award 2019; the French Academy Dejean Prize 2016; the Grand Prix Afex 2016; and the French Ministry AJAP Prize 2008.

Image credit: Stone Garden, Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture, photo by Iwan Baan. Banner image: Headshot of Lina Ghotmeh courtesy Gilbert Hage.

About the Frank Gehry International Visiting Chair in Architectural Design

Named in honour of Frank O. Gehry, this endowed chair brings a highly recognized international architect to the Daniels Faculty to deliver a public lecture and enrich the student learning experience each year. Heather Reisman, founder of Indigo Books and Music, and 45 other donors contributed $1 million, matched by U of T, to establish the chair in November 2000. It's named for the Toronto-born designer of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain; the Experience Music Project in Seattle; and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. 

Past Gehry Chairs include: Daniel Libeskind, New York (2002-03); Preston Scott Cohen, Cambridge, Massachusetts (2003-04); Merrill Elam, Atlanta (2004-05); Diane Lewis, New York  (2005-06); Will Bruder, Phoenix (2006-07); Jürgen Mayer H, Berlin (2007-08); Wes Jones, Los Angeles (2008-09); Mitchell Joachim, New York (2009-10); Nader Tehrani, Boston (2010-11); Hrvoje Njiric, Zagreb, Croatia (2011-12); Josemaría de Churtichaga, Madrid (2013-14); Sharon Johnston and Mark Lee, Los Angeles (2016-17); Amale Andraos and Dan Wood, New York (2017-18); Aljoša Dekleva and Tina Gregorič, Ljubljana, Slovenia (2019-20); and Douglas Cardinal, Ottawa (2020-21).

The Daniels Faculty is pleased to announce that assistant professor Petros Babasikas has been appointed to the position of director of the Bachelor of Arts, Architectural Studies program (BAAS) effective July 1, 2021. 

As director, Babasikas assumes leadership of the unique undergraduate program that uses architectural studies as a lens for students to pursue a broad, liberal arts-based education.  “I am honoured to take on the role at a time when our students are translating their studies into tangible impact more than ever before” said Babasikas. 

Following two years of core courses in the design, history, and technology of architecture, landscape, and urbanism, BAAS students focus on a stream with a particular emphasis: Design, History & Theory, or Technology. Students may also elect to keep their course of study broad and pursue the Comprehensive Specialist steam. 

"Design thinking is a constant thread throughout the program and various streams,” said Babasikas. “Our students learn the process of iteration and research through making. They observe and reshape problems, form critical positions, and design in response to contemporary issues like the climate crisis, global housing, physical computing, social justice, the decline of the Commons.” 

Looking ahead to the start of the 2021-22 academic year, Babasikas emphasized rebuilding a sense of community after a singularly virtual environment.  

“It will be a time to celebrate that we’re coming back together – our students can find common ground and experience what it means to learn and experiment in the Daniels Building, with the city of Toronto as their laboratory. We also look forward to rethinking our global initiatives and experiential learning opportunities as part of our rigorous and rewarding four-year curriculum.” 

Babasikas joined the Daniels Faculty in 2017 teaching in both the undergraduate and graduate architecture programs. When the university moved to virtual learning in 2020, Babasikas adapted the model-making activities within Architecture Studio III (ARC361) to incorporate student-produced short films. Students proved so adept at creating architectural drama in their short films that Babasikas is planning to make video a permanent part of ARC361's syllabus. 

"We usually represent architectural design as finished, vacant drawings and images. But architecture is never finished and always occupied: it's a time-based process, creating atmosphere and stories," Babasikas says. "Filmmaking is just a natural next part of this process.” 

Images: 1) The Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary, an adaptive reuse, land- and sea-scape remediation project in collaboration with the Archipelagos Institute for Marine Conservation in Leipsoi (2021);  2) ATHENS2030, an urban rejuvenation design/infrastructure research project for the Historic Center of Athens (2020);  3) 6PLACE TORONTO, a public space project documenting infrastructural monuments (2018); 4) DRIP, a vertical garden pavilion combining salt, steel, and halophyte plants in London (2012).

In addition to his roles as an educator, Babasikas is an architect and writer whose work explores connections between architecture, storytelling, media, and public space.  

Recent research and teaching investigate public space under climate crisis and the design of buildings and cities against the decline of the Commons – examples include the Archipelago Thesis Studio at Daniels, the public space investigation 6 Place Toronto, “ATHENS2030,” a blue/green infrastructural rejuvenation and DIY urbanism project in Mediterranean Cities, and the establishment of the “Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary,” an innovative marine conservation, rehabilitation facility, and island community in Leipsoi, Greece.  

He is principal of Babasikas Office (Toronto and Athens) and a licensed architect in Greece and the EU. Babasikas has edited exhibition catalogues and published essays on public space, urban renewal, housing, crisis landscapes, lens-based art, and walking as a cultural and political practice. He holds a BA in Architecture and Comparative Literature from Columbia University and a Master of Architecture from Princeton University. 

Babasikas succeeds former director Jeannie Kim, associate professor. During her eight years in the role, Kim oversaw the development and realization of the new undergraduate curriculum – and the introduction of undergraduate thesis, an opportunity for students from the specialist streams to work together, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration for students who participate in the School of Cities or Engineering capstones. 

The design for the revitalized University College Library on U of T’s St. George Campus has been recognized with the Ontario Library Association’s 2021 Library Architectural and Design Transformation Award. The 24,000 square foot renovation project was completed by Kohn Shnier + ERA Architects in association. One of the project’s leaders was John Shnier, a principal with Kohn Shnier Architects, as well as an Associate Professor in the Master of Architecture program at Daniels.

The revitalization project is deeply important for University College – returning the Library space to its original location within the existing building, modernizing the library’s function with the ability to support new programming, updating building infrastructure while renewing other areas for students and faculty, and providing new measures for barrier-free accessibility.

Even before the award, the refreshed library spaces were notable within the context of the campus for their integration within University College, a beloved neo-gothic campus building. Linear black and white contemporary structures and detailing within the refreshed spaces stand in contrast against the building’s existing stained-glass windows and wood panelling, creating a memorable juxtaposition. The overall project also includes a new elevator tower, clad in scaled copper to reflect the aesthetic of the surrounding campus.

“Our approach to this project was driven from the outset by a significant respect for the historic building and a reverence for the spaces within. University College is a significant building within the legacy of U of T, but also an exceptional piece of Ontario’s history and the history of higher education in Canada,” said Kohn Shnier architects in a written statement.

“Every effort was made to touch the existing fabric lightly, yet aspects of the programme, the mandate to create barrier-free accessibility and improve technology and infrastructure, required a deft hand to ensure these requirements did not overwhelm or compromise the qualities of the building that we and the stakeholders held dear. Every new element was carefully considered in its relationship to the historic fabric, but also in how it could service the technical requirements of the project both now and mindful of future requirements.”

The Library Architectural and Design Transformation Award is given in recognition of exemplary renovation, restoration, or conversion projects. In a comment from the jury for the award, the University College revitalization project was described as “a beautiful and skilled renovation of a significant heritage building. The new elements of the library are considerately designed to draw on and respect their context in the fabric of the carefully restored existing building.”

The University College revitalization is one of three projects being recognized with the award, given at a digital ceremony earlier in July. The project is the second OLA-awarded library that Kohn Shnier Architects has designed for the University of Toronto. In 2004, their design of the beloved EJ Pratt Library at Victoria College was recognized with an Award of Excellence by the OLA (that project was designed in association with Shore Tilbe Irwin Partners).

Images courtesy of Kohn Shnier (University of Toronto – University College, Kohn Shnier + ERA Architects in Association).

At the Daniels Faculty and across U of T, we’re continuing to prepare for in-person learning and increased on-campus activities this fall. As we’ve shared throughout the summer, students, faculty, and staff should plan to return to campus this September.

What will fall 2021 look like at the Daniels Faculty?

Recent news from Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges and Universities indicates that if vaccination rates and public health indicators continue improving, universities will be permitted to resume in-person instruction without physical distancing or capacity limits on gatherings. Masks in indoor settings will still be required.

Fall term lecture and studio courses at the Daniels Faculty are scheduled to begin in-person on Thursday, September 9, with some in-person field courses beginning in August. If you have a question about your date of arrival, please contact registrar@daniels.utoronto.ca.

Faculty, librarians, and staff should be in conversation with their supervisor to confirm plans for fall 2021. Please reference UTogether’s Resources for faculty, librarians, and staff for answers to FAQs.

What if I am not able to be on campus by the first day of classes?

For undergraduate and graduate students who will not be able to be in Toronto on the first day of classes due to extenuating circumstances: the Office of the Registrar and Student Services will evaluate applications for virtual learning for a two-week period (September 9-23).

Each application will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Incoming and current students will receive more information from the Office of the Registrar and Student Services by mid-August.

Students seeking an accommodation due to a disability should contact Accessibility Services as soon as possible to discuss their individual situations: accessibility.services@utoronto.ca.

How is U of T preparing for a safe return to campus?

U of T is closely monitoring the Government of Ontario’s plans for safely re-opening our province. As Ontario moved into Step Three of its Roadmap to Reopen, efforts for a safe arrival of new and returning students continue, including preparation of residences and programs to assist students arriving from outside of Canada.

• How U of T is preparing for a safe return to campus
• International Student Arrival
• Quarantine Information for Students Entering Canada
• Residences and Off-campus Housing

We understand that there will be questions as plans are finalized and we move into the last month of summer. The Daniels Faculty will provide another update in August, and we will continue to share news along the way.

Until then enjoy the rest of summer, and we look forward to seeing you in person this fall.

The Call for Proposals is now open for the inaugural Indigenous mural project at the Daniels Building.  All interested artists are invited to complete the online form or fillable PDF by Friday August 13, 11:59 pm (EDT).  If you are submitting the PDF, please email: danielsartdirective@gmail.com. 

The collaborative process to create the mural is being organized by the Daniels Art Directive (DAD), a student-led art collective, with guidance from Elder Whabagoon, the First Peoples Leadership Advisor to the Dean, and supported by the Daniels Faculty’s Office of External Relations and Outreach. An Indigenous Advisory Panel will select the artist and guide the project team. Read the mural announcement here.

Interested and want to know more? Join the Informational Session on Tuesday, July 20, 1-2 pm. The meeting will be recorded and shared on the Daniels Mural Project webpage following the session.

Register for the Information Session on Tuesday, July 20

Learn more about the Daniels Mural Project: 
daniels.utoronto.ca/outreach/daniels-mural-project

Statement from the Dean's Office

Progress continues at the Daniels Faculty and across the University of Toronto as we prepare for a safe return to campus this fall. For the most recent information, visit the UTogether hub and the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students’ website.

Since my last update on May 31, Ontario is now in step two of the provincial plan to reopen ahead of schedule and the Federal Government announced they are easing quarantine restrictions for fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents. (As restrictions ease, please reference the Vice-Provost's COVID-19 Resources for information related to quarantine accommodation for students.)

This news, combined with the province’s accelerated vaccination plans, is another step in the right direction for our transition to on-campus activities.

U of T also announced that vaccinations will be required for students living in residence. “This requirement, which is endorsed by our local public health authorities, will enable us to give our students the residence experience that they expect – and that is so important to their growth and development – without compromising on their health and safety,” said Sandy Welsh, U of T’s vice-provost, students.

I encourage you to consult Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination website for information on vaccine eligibility and how to book your first and/or second dose.

At the Daniels Faculty, we continue to monitor public health measures as we prioritize planning for activities that benefit the most from an in-person experience. We will provide another update in July as more information becomes available.

Until then, take good care.

Robert Wright
Interim Dean