- York University received two capital grants from the Federal-Provincial Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP). Announced in 2009, the first grant of $70 million has been provided for the construction of a new Life Sciences Building to build capacity in health science research in accordance with York's strategic research plan. This $84 million, 162,000 gross square foot facility, constructed to the north of the existing Chemistry and Petrie buildings, houses both research and teaching laboratories with state-of-the-art research equipment. The space includes flexible services laboratory modules for future programs and is a showcase for York's world-class health science researchers in the Faculties of Health and Science & Engineering. Floor 2 of the Life Sciences building opened for Undergraduate Lab instruction in September 2011. Floor 3 was occupied by research groups in October 2011. Floors 1& 4 will be ready for occupancy in January 2012. The second grant of $25 million was announced in 2009 for the Osgoode Expansion & Renovation Project. This $57 million project upgraded and modernized the existing 40-year old, 5-storey law school building and added about 25,000 net assignable square feet in a single storey over the podium structure of the existing Library reading room. The project added much needed flexible classroom space, reconfigured the library to improve utilization and access, abated asbestos, improved disability access, created specialized space for delivery of clinical legal education, research centres and programs, increased faculty offices and created new space for student life. When the expanded and renovated building re-opened in September 2011, it was re-named the Ignat Kaneff Building, in recognition of a significant gift to the project by Ignat Kaneff.
- At the Glendon campus, a $21.5 million capital project is underway which will create a Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. Funding of $20 million has been provided by a one-time capital grant from the Ontario Investment in Strategic Infrastructure Program. The scope of the project includes more than 47,000 net assignable square feet of new teaching space, the renovation of almost 6,000 square feet of existing space in the adjacent York Hall A Wing, and the upgrading of the campus physical plant and infrastructure. Key elements of the Centre of Excellence facility, which will also create a proper "front door" for the Glendon campus, include state-of-the art lecture theatres, classrooms, a 300-seat auditorium, an art studio, laboratories, public and student life space, a new elevator, and a Tim Horton's outlet. Project completion is anticipated in early 2012.
- To meet the needs of the expanding research agenda in the Centre for Research on Earth & Space Science (CRESS), as well as additional laboratory and research space on campus, the University constructed a fourth floor addition on the Petrie Science & Engineering Building. The addition, completed and occupied in September 2010, includes 8,400 net assignable square feet of laboratory, office and research space on the fourth floor, an 1,100 square foot observatory deck, and a 280 square foot Air Quality Research Lab on a small "5th floor penthouse". The project included retrofitting the building's freight elevator and extending it to service the new fourth floor. In March 2007, a partial construction of a 4th floor had been completed and subsequently named the Gordon G. Shepherd Atmospheric Research Facility, housing an Integrated Earth-Atmospheric Sensing and Predictive facility.
- In March 2009, the University embarked on an innovative initiative to convert the old York Ice Arena into a health research facility. Renovation was substantially completed by February 2010 and it opened officially in September 2010. The building was renamed the Sherman Health Science Research Centre, in recognition of a significant financial contribution made to the project by Barry and Honey Sherman and the Apotex Foundation. The re-configured and re-purposed two-storey, 48,000 square foot building is now home to York's Centre for Vision Research, health-related research projects in Kinesiology and Health Science, as well as an FMRI research facility. This project was an innovation in sustainability: it took the existing building envelope and introduced an intermediate floor slab (that added 18,000 square feet); used reclaimed brick from new openings to fill in old door and window openings; used demolished fire roof decking as stair treads and re-used pieces of the crushed concrete pad (previously below the ice surface), for the exterior "alvar" — a rainwater management element of the exterior landscape design.
- The Archives of Ontario public access facility, which opened in March 2009, is an integrated, multi-use three-storey, 290,000-square-foot podium building. The self-contained facility meets international archival standards and makes it easier to showcase some of the Archives of Ontario's most valuable collections. As part of the government's commitment to creating and promoting a culture of conservation in Ontario, the Archives building meets the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) silver certification, a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. Visit the Archives of Ontario Web site for more information on the building and the Archives' collections. Adjoining the Archives of Ontario building is the ten-storey, York Research Tower (YRT), which provides 120,000 square feet of academic and research space for the University. The upper seven stories of the YRT are partially set back on the top of the Archives podium structure. The YRT was constructed with an approved budget of $63.3 million to meet the LEED silver standard. Visit http://www.yorku.ca/research/about/yrt.html for a list of administrative offices and research units now housed in the YRT.
- In June 2011, a $50 million capital grant was announced by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities to develop a new Engineering Building at York University. Plans for the development of York's School of Engineering were further bolstered with the November 2011 announcement of a transformational donation of $25 million from philanthropist, Pierre Lassonde. Planning for the engineering building is underway, with construction anticipated to begin mid-2012 for an opening in Fall 2014.
- Energy and utility management is administered through Central Utilities whose primary function is to provide heating, cooling and power to all academic, administrative, retail and residence facilities on campus. These services are partially provided through an on-site10 megawatt co-generation facility which produces approximately 60% of the Keele Campus electricity requirements. The remaining 40% is purchased. Co-generation has been demonstrated to be a cost-effective and an efficient alternative to purchasing electricity and heat separately, as it captures thermal energy that would otherwise be expelled in the generation process. Co-generation uses a single fuel source, natural gas, to produce electricity and heat. Co-generation is a cheaper alternative than simply purchasing electricity and heat separately, because it makes use of the "waste" heat that would normally be expelled in the process. York's co-generation plant has two gas turbines. Each turbine turns a generator that produces around 5,000 Kilowatts of electricity at 13.8 kilovolts. For every 1 kilowatt of electricity which is produced at York, approximately 1.6 kilowatts of heat is generated. The heat recovered from the cogeneration plant is used to heat campus buildings during winter; warm the domestic hot water; heat the swimming pool in the recreation centre; and produce cold water, via an absorption chiller, to cool the buildings in the summer.
- The Energy Management Program (EMP) is a $40 million initiative with the goal of achieving a 25% reduction in energy consumption over a five-year period. This project includes a comprehensive overhaul of the University's energy infrastructure as well as audits, retrofits and upgrades to existing facilities. Through this project, it is anticipated that electricity consumption will be reduced by over 12,000,000 kWh thereby reducing more than 3,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually. The next phase of the EMP will be to expand energy saving lighting and other HVAC infrastructure improvements to other facilities on campus. A campus-wide automated metering system now tracks and monitors electrical energy use per building to better quantify each building's progress towards meeting the campus' energy objectives. As of March 2011, the $40 million program is just over 60% complete with about $24 million spent and close to $8.5 million in projects in progress. Results have been very positive as weather normalized savings have been calculated at 21.7% — over 80% of the 25% goal. Results have been measured by energy consumption reduction (heating, cooling, and electricity). For more information on the Energy Management Program, visit http://www.yorku.ca/csbo/energymanagement/energyinitiative/index.html
- YORKW!SE is a campaign that encourages York University members to adopt sustainable behaviours and practices, and to participate in initiatives and activities that promote campus stewardship and improve the quality of life at York. YORKW!SE is about respect for others and for our shared environment. It is about being aware of the impact we have on our surroundings, which involves taking action that is ecologically, economically and socially conscious. YORKW!SE builds on University sustainability practices relating to transit, energy conservation, recycling, campus planning, building design, development, renovation and maintenance. For more information on Yorkwise initiatives, visit www.yorku.ca/yorkwise
- York's Department of Occupational Health and Safety has developed an innovative management tool to improve workplace safety. The Risk-Based Workplace Hazard Database catalogues specific occupational risk factors based on the compilation and analysis of over 800 jobs in 86 job classes with similar job hazards. To assist with staff training, the database is available online to Faculty, department managers and supervisors to provide them with a list of tasks, hazards and risks related to each job under their jurisdiction.
- The north-south GO train line to Barrie serves as a viable public transit option for York students, faculty and staff commuting from Barrie, Bradford, Newmarket, Aurora, King City and Maple. This GO line includes a York University station located on Canarctic Drive, three blocks east of the main Keele Street campus entrance. York provides a complimentary shuttle bus, for University members, between the GO station and the University Common (operated by Campus Services and Business Operations). For more information on the GO train and Regional GO bus routes (to/from Mississauga, Burlington, Oakville, Brampton, Richmond Hill, Unionville, Markham, Scarborough Town Centre, Pickering, Whitby and Oshawa) as well as Brampton Transit, TTC and York Region Transit service enhancements, please visit http://www.yorku.ca/transportation/
- goSAFE is a complimentary evening service provided by York University to help students, faculty, staff and their guests safely get from one on-campus location to another. goSAFE staff members, by request, will walk you to and from any on-campus location, such as any of the Village Shuttle's on-campus pick-up / drop-off locations, parking lots, bus stops or residences. Upon request, goSAFE staff will wait with you until your bus or transportation arrives or until your car starts, and are generally available to meet you at your desired pick-up location within 10 minutes. For more information, visit www.yorku.ca/goSAFE. In addition, the Village Shuttle (a complimentary service offered by Transportation Services), operates three routes — Village Express, Village East and Village West — from designated shuttle stops both on and off campus, providing evening transportation to University students, faculty and staff to designated areas on and off campus (York U ID required). For route and schedule information, visit www.yorku.ca/transportation/shuttle
- Available at the Keele campus, Zipcar is a car sharing service that provides vehicles to York faculty, staff and students as an environmentally-friendly and cost effective alternative to driving and parking a car on campus. Faculty, staff and students are able to join Zipcar at a discounted rate. Zipcar members also gain access to the Zipcar network of more than 3,500 vehicles throughout 50 cities in North America and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.zipcar.com/yorku.ca
- The York University "busway", constructed by the TTC, provides a rapid transit bus route between the Downsview subway station and York's Keele campus. The designated, bus-only roadway was constructed along the hydro corridor just north of Finch Avenue, from Dufferin Street to Keele Street, and then northward through the University campus connecting with York Boulevard. Buses use the existing High Occupancy Vehicle lanes on Dufferin Street and Allen Road to connect between the busway and the Downsview Station. Opened in August 2009, the York University busway significantly improves the speed and reliability of bus service between the subway and the Keele campus.
- Construction has begun on the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension (TYSSE) from the Downsview Station to the Vaughan Corporate Centre (at Hwy 7 and Jane St.). The 8.7-km extension will add six new stations: Sheppard West (connecting with the GO Barrie train line, near Chesswood Ave.); Finch West (near the intersection of Keele and Finch); York University (at the east end of the University Common); Steeles West (at the intersection of Northwest Gate); 407 (to serve regional commuters and connect with GO regional buses); and Vaughan Corporate Centre (northwest of Jane St. and Hwy. 7). The subway extension to York's Keele campus will improve connections to GO transit, York Region Transit, VIVA and TTC buses -- and dramatically reduce bus traffic on campus. For more information, visit www.yorku.ca/subway
- The YU-card is York University's official "one card" for students, faculty and staff. The YU-card provides a single form of identification and convenient access to campus services including libraries, printing and photocopying, recreational facilities, meal plans and most campus food and retail outlets. Over 2 million financial transactions are processed by the YU-card program each year. For more information, visit http://www.yorku.ca/yucard/
- Established in honour of a former York Vice-President Finance and Administration, the Phyllis Clark Award, which includes a $500 purse, is given annually to a non-academic employee of York University who has made exemplary contributions to the operations of either of York's campuses in terms of efficiency, cleanliness, safety, security and/or other campus or plant services. Past recipients include Antonio Catricala, operator; Rose Hodgson, custodian; Raul Dionisio, operator/team leader; Maddalena Di Pierro, custodian; John Hansen, locksmith; Andy Starostecki, millwright; Rebecca Muyal, Planning Services manager; and Orante Del Monte, custodian. More information about the Phyllis Clark Award is available at http://www.yorku.ca/presidnt/awards/phyllis_clark_csaward.htm
- In celebration of York's 50th birthday in 2009, the long service recognition program for non-academic employees was expanded and now includes those who have worked at the University for 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years. Each year, a reception is hosted by the President and Vice-President of Finance and Administration to recognize employees reaching these significant milestones and to take them on a "trip down memory lane". More information on the annual celebration is available under the 'Sponsored Events' link on the VPFA homepage at http://www.yorku.ca/vpfa/annualreception.htm
Did You Know...
