Project Updates & Construction Notices
Lawson Centre for Sustainability
Trinity College has been working on the planning and design of our new mixed-use residence and academic building for several years. We are excited to announce that mobilization for the construction of this transformational project is underway. We will endeavour to keep all community members informed of the ongoing changes to our campus throughout this time. Project updates and construction notices (including access to campus) will be posted on this page — please check back often.
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Updates & Construction Notices
- February 21, 2023: Phase 2 of the Lawson Centre for Sustainability to begin imminently. Graham Construction has installed a temporary road through the site for emergency and authorized vehicle access only to the Varsity Centre. Please note there is no pedestrian access on the temporary road. The pedestrian walkway directly south of the Varsity Centre between Devonshire Place and Philosopher’s Walk will be maintained for the duration of the project (see map below).
- February 7, 2023: Pedestrian access modifications. There will be ongoing modifications to the pedestrian access north of Strachan Hall and the Combination Room area this month, including an increase in construction traffic in the laneway over the remainder of this week. Access will be maintained during this period. Please follow signage as posted and check back for regular updates.
- Starting January 2023: Construction activity increases. There will be more traffic, including trucks entering and existing the construction zone, along with intermittent periods of loud or disruptive work. During working hours, construction workers are stationed at the entry/exit route on Devonshire Place to assist with truck traffic. Please travel safely along Devonshire Place. Thank you for your patience.
Fall 2022 Updates
- December 19, 2022: Geothermal drilling begins. Rigs are in place to start drilling the 200-metre-deep boreholes. There are a total of 57 boreholes to be drilled, which equals 11 km worth of geothermal-exchange capacity.
- December 5, 2022: Excess soil removal. Topsoil is being removed in preparation for geothermal drilling. Expect increased truck traffic and noise on site.
- October 3, 2022: Construction mobilization begins on-site. At this time site access will be limited—please see the drop-down menu below for more information about Campus Accessibility. During construction, there will be lots of activity across our campus, including increased traffic in various areas and some intermittent periods of loud or disruptive work.
- October 2, 2022: Trinity’s parking lot is closed permanently. Trinity College paid parking spaces will no longer be available after this date. There are nearby parking facilities at the OISE above-ground parking lot (71 Prince Arthur Ave.) and the St. George underground parking lot (107 St. George St.)
Access to Campus
The map below shows the approximate location of the construction zone (shaded in red) for Phase 1 of the project (October 2022 through March 2023). Descriptions and accessible text are provided below the map.
- There is no access to the campus through the former parking lot area.
- For barrier-free access, see the section below.
- Access to the Trinity campus from Philosopher’s Walk will be limited.
The entire construction site is under the authority of Graham Construction, and for safety and other reasons, no one (students, staff, faculty, and visitors) can enter or travel through the construction zone (fenced enclosure) for any reason at any time. Entrances and egress from all Trinity buildings will be maintained during most of the construction schedule. When there are limited impacts to specific areas, community members will be notified and updates will be provided here.

Pedestrian Pathways: Legend for the Image Above
- Light Blue dotted line: Pedestrian path providing campus access – see items #1 and #4 below
- Dark Blue dotted line: Pedestrian path providing barrier-free campus access – see items #2 and #3 below
- Pink dotted line: Pedestrian path connecting Philosopher’s Walk and Devonshire Place – see item #5 below
- Shaded red area: No pedestrian access – indicates the approximate location of the construction site boundaries: south of the Varsity Stadium lane; west of Philosopher’s Walk; north of Trinity College proper and the Gerald Larkin Building; and east of the George Ignatieff Theatre and the former parking lot.
- Campus Access: Trinity College main entrance at 6 Hoskin Avenue (during operating hours)
- Barrier-Free Campus Access from Hoskin Avenue: north through the laneway between Trinity College and the Graham Library/Munk School
- Barrier-Free Campus Access from Devonshire Place: through the Munk School North Building (1 Devonshire Place) – main entrance and the northeast rear entrance
- Campus Access: along the south side of the Gerald Larkin Building at 15 Devonshire Place
- Connection between Philosopher’s Walk and Devonshire Place: along the existing covered walkway of the Varsity Centre and along the designated path to Philosopher’s Walk
- Henderson Gate, Trinity Quad: no access through Philosopher’s Walk
Construction Timeline
Construction Timeline
TIMELINE (fiscal year) |
PROJECT PHASE |
STATUS (as of December 2022) |
2022-2025 |
Construction |
October 2022: Mobilization, groundbreaking
October 2022 – March 2023: Phase 1 – Early Works, Excavation, Utilities Relocation, Site Services
December 2022: Preliminary excavation and geothermal work
February 2023 – May 2023: Phase 2 – Site Servicing, Duct Bank Routing, Geothermal Borehole Drilling
May 2023: Bulk excavation and foundation work
October 2023: Core mass timber structure begins
December 2023: Interior fit out and finishings
January 2024: Building envelope work begins (roofing, wall assemblies)
October 2024: Power on, commissioning phase begins
June 2025: Interior furnishings |
Spring 2025 |
Project Completion |
Expected |
Fall 2025 |
Student Occupancy |
Expected |
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Trinity College Project Team