New six-storey UTM Residence building welcomes 400 first-year students
The latest addition to campus comes nearly two decades after the completion of UTM’s last residence building.

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After two consecutive years of construction, the New Residence Building (NRB) welcomed an additional 400 students to the UTM residence community on September 4.

The new six-storey building succeeds Oscar Peterson Hall (OPH), completed in 2007, as the newest UTM residence building, according to U of T News. It has increased the total number of residence students to around 2000. It features 135 double bedrooms, 115 single bedrooms and an additional 15 rooms for residence staff. NRB also offers various facilities, including but not limited to a music room, laundry facilities, communal kitchens, and study rooms. 

In an interview with The Medium, Acting Director of Student Housing and Residence Life Jen Skinner shared, “This residence was years in the making, and seeing the common spaces already buzzing with students settling in makes the wait worth it.” She continued, “Alongside our first-year housing guarantee, that means many more students get to call campus home.” 

While the new housing space is welcome, many upper-year students still believe additional affordable housing options are in order, in search of a place to call home amid rising local housing and tuition costs. 

Third-year resident student Franz Lyn Querol discussed the critical gap between university student enrolments and affordable student housing infrastructures both on and off campus. 

“Because it is so expensive and even though it is convenient, I don’t think I would [live on residence again],” Querol said. “I would recommend it for the first years for sure… because they also have events that facilitate the transition from high school or being an international student.”

On the other hand, Ng’ang’a Gitau, a third-year student and returning Residence Student Staff (RSS) of the Student Housing & Residence Life (SHRL) shared, “While SHRL does offer a wide variety of competitive price points for the ever-growing UTM population, I believe focusing on the cost of a room on campus can run the risk of overlooking the great range of other benefits which are enjoyed by students living on residence.”

Gitau went on to explain the personalized support first-year students receive from RSS, “It can be tricky adjusting to a living situation far from home or far from family, but the RSS are here to help ease that transition for the residence students.”

Gitau shared his experience and why he is returning as a RSS. “It was the little things that kept bringing me back, and it is these same little things that I will cherish forever.” 

He continued, “It was also such a joy being supported by my global living learning community program facilitator, Amanda, all throughout my first year—from Zoom calls over reading week to ensure that I was well-supported, to cooking workshops where we enjoyed delicious jerk chicken, to my first ever graduation in university. UTM Residence is a place that I can joyfully call home.” 

Ultimately, residence is more than choosing a single or double room. For many, it is a new step, a choice dependent upon proximity, costs, and making memories. 

Expanding campus residency continues to aid both staff and students in getting hands-on employment opportunities for community involvement. Housing administrators may need to continue expanding, to ensure support and services exist for students in an uncertain economy. Affordable housing may maximize student efforts in thriving within academic and social settings.

Skinner explained, “Our commitment to student housing goes well beyond this one building. We’ve completed significant renovations to Putnam Place, McLuhan Court, Leacock Lane, and phase one of MaGrath Valley, and we’ll keep investing in our existing residences to meet the evolving needs of students.” 

“While there are no additional new builds planned in the immediate term, all of this work is guided by our long-term Student Housing Master Plan, which continues to shape how we grow and improve campus housing for years to come,” concluded Skinner.

When asked about the NRB name reveal, Skinner said, “The name is one of the surprises we’re saving for our official opening celebration this fall, so keep an eye out. It’s worth the wait.” 

The official opening ceremony date is yet to be announced. Keep an eye on the @UTMResidence Instagram page for the ceremony announcement.

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