Creative Mixed-Use Case Studies

Ryerson Ted Rogers School of Management / Canadian Tire & Best Buy

55 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Type: New construction

Size: 210,000 sf (school)

Project Cost: $75 million (school)

Development Partners:

  • Ryerson University (Now Toronto Metropolitan University)
  • Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited

Status: Opened in 2008

Description

In this development Ryerson’s business school – which previously did not have a central hub – occupies the top floors of a nine-story building with a band of retail at the ground level, including a Canadian Tire and Best Buy. The Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM) is home to six schools of management, three graduate degrees, and 14 research centres, institutes and labs. It includes a 500-seat auditorium, large atrium, and 32 classrooms and conference suites.

Complexity / Collaboration

The building is a joint venture between Ryerson University and Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited. It is part of a strata contract between the two partners where Ryerson controls the academic space on upper floors, while Cadillac Fairview op- erates retail space on lower floors.

User Interaction/Partnership Framework

The development has a functional separation of building users. There are no unsupervised connections between the school and the retail uses. Entrances are mostly separate.

Ryerson is a good partner as it provides stable long-term users for a large portion of the building. Developing a joint venture building ties the reputation of Ryerson to that of Cadillac Fairview and the retail stores. The building allows Ryerson to grow and raise its profile while also meeting space needs. According to some, the development is a sign that universities can struggle financially.

Costs / Funding

The cost of construction for the school was approximately $75 million. The provincial government contributed $12.5 million, Cadillac Fairview provided support, and Ted Rogers provided a donation of $15 million, including $8 million for scholarships, $2 million for research and $5 million toward the cost of construction.

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