Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) is gearing up for the start of construction on the university’s new Student Wellbeing Centre

The eight-storey facility, which will be housed as part of TMU’s historic O’Keefe House at 137 Bond Street, will consolidate well-being related services under one roof to improve access and service delivery for the entire university community.

"It's so exciting to see this project underway and to know that we'll soon have another landmark building on campus that is completely tailored to students' needs," said Jen McMillen, Vice-Provost, Students.

While TMU’s Student Wellbeing Centre will be a modern, sustainable and innovative hub that brings all well-being services together, it will also preserve a large piece of TMU’s historic campus.

O’Keefe House, built in 1875, was originally the residence of Eugene O’Keefe, founder of O’Keefe Brewery Company of Toronto Limited. The building was offered to former TMU principal Howard H. Kerr in 1963. Until 1991 when Pitman Hall was built, it operated as the university’s only residence.

For its new role as the home of the Student Wellbeing Centre, TMU worked with the City of Toronto’s Heritage Planning services as well as an independent heritage consultant in order to preserve the historic O’Keefe House.

TMU has selected Pomerleau as construction managers for the project, with an official groundbreaking ceremony to take place later this spring. Hariri Pontarini Architects will act as the prime consultant for the design and redevelopment of O’Keefe House and its new addition, while Two Row Architect provided Indigenous design services.