York University Master Plan
Toronto
York University has experienced a remarkable trajectory from its founding 50 years ago in a suburban setting on Toronto's urban fringe to its emergence as a major urban University in the middle of a rapidly emerging part of the city soon to be served by a major subway extension. In 2009 Ken Greenberg was selected by the York University Development Corporation to work with the Planning Partnership of Toronto in updating the University’s Master Plan for its North York Keele Campus. This is obviously a period of momentous change for York with the need to respond to the combined and overlapping impacts of many internal and external pressures including:
Continuing to meet the evolving needs of a growing institution for academic and student facilities including strengthening Undergraduate and Graduate activities, the shift to more science and research related activity and the opportunity to create an new Medical School
The powerful potential of a new Subway extension with proposed stops bracketing the campus with three stops at Steeles, Finch and Keele and in the heart of the campus
The need to respond to the City's proposed designation of sites for mixed-use use development on University lands peripheral to the campus and the establishment of an expanded public street network and public realm within University lands
The need for a flexible but secure development Framework that allows for opportunities to monetize additional non-core, non-academic real estate over time to support University's academic mission
Opportunities to work with private sector providers for student housing
Acknowledging these significant changes in the area surrounding the campus and engaging the University community, the Master Plan will provide the University with a framework to best integrate external pressures and opportunities with York's academic priorities and mission and guide the continued evolution of the Keele campus to meet the needs for academic and student activities.