General Information
Markham Campus will open in Spring 2024.
The building was designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects. The project is being built by Stuart Olson Inc.
The building is being targeted to achieve a LEED Gold certification. Sustainability was a key design “theme” for the building, and the sustainability features include:
- Indoor and outdoor water use reduction
- low flow plumbing fixtures
- demand and occupancy control ventilation and lighting
- use of sustainable building material
- carbon offsets
- bird collision deterrence
- heating and cooling plant connected to Markham District Energy (MDE)
Markham Campus will offer a number of undergraduate and graduate programs centred on the core themese of technology and entrepreneurship. Visit the program page to view all undergraduate Markham programs as well as the Markham Campus Viewbook.
Applications for all Markham programs will open in Fall 2023.
Domestic and International students will be able to:
- Benefit from a small campus setting.
- Study closer to home and enjoy state-of-the-art facilities in the heart of the vibrant City of Markham community with easy access to the comprehensive teaching and research strengths of York University. will
- Take advantage of unique, flexible and hands-on learning, with innovative job-ready academic programming and research opportunities focused on digital technologies, entrepreneurship, new media and communications – the core skills needed to contribute to the future economic success and community development of Markham, York Region, and across Ontario.
- Participate in relevant workplace-based learning placements and local job prospects upon graduation.
The University acknowledges and appreciates continued support from York Region residents, current and future students, the business community and the many community groups and government partners who share York’s vision that the new Markham Campus is essential, valuable and beneficial for the entire York Region community.
Building on the already strong relationships that York has with the City of Markham and York Region, MC will consolidate York University’s already strong academic presence in the City of Markham through the existing YSpace, the IBM Innovation Space – Markham Convergence Centre and our IBM Partnership.
The University also has strong public and private sector partnerships to allow us to take advantage of existing infrastructure and facilities in Markham Centre that will enhance the campus experience and student life. These existing and new partnerships will provide opportunities for community service projects, research collaborations and work-related placement opportunities.
Markham Campus will also provide opportunities for the private sector to invest in and develop student support services including student housing, retail and food services.
A full staffing plan is currently being developed to support MC programming. All Markham Campus job postings can be found on York’s main career page.
Digital Technologies Program
Student Life and Campus Services
The Markham Campus is located in the Unionville Major Transit Station Area (MTSA) and is serviced by a number of existing and planned transit services, including the Unionville GO Station, York Region Transit and the Highway 7 VivaNext transit corridor.
The MC will be serviced by several existing and planned transit services, including the Unionville GO Station, York Region Transit and the Highway 7 VivaNext transit corridor. We are currently looking at options for the establishment of a shuttle service between the Markham and Keele campuses.
York University has been a leader in supporting sustainable transportation options. The MC site will be serviced by several existing and planned transit services, including the Unionville GO Station, York Region Transit, and the Highway 7 VivaNext transit corridor. Parking on site is limited, and there will be secure bike storage available outside of the building.
We are currently working with the City of Markham to develop the plan for general campus parking that will provide for up to 1,000 spaces, over time, as student enrolment increases. A working group of City and University staff are currently working on this parking plan.
The University is in the early stages of working with the private sector in pursuit of developing a purpose-built student residence in close proximity to the campus. As this initiative is still at the conceptual stage, details have not yet been determined.
This question is likely better answered by the City of Markham. However, York is working closely with our partners in the city of Markham and the private sector to develop purpose-built student residences.
Research
Markham Campus will offer research, training and teaching opportunities in three specific cluster areas designed to support a technologically advanced and sustainable society: AI & Society, FinTech, and Digital Cultures. Learn more about research and innovation at Markham Campus.
Building on York’s already strong and growing innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, the Markham campus will offer a wide range of innovative degree programming – undergraduate, graduate and professional – with research opportunities that focus on digital technologies, entrepreneurship, arts and emerging technologies, and communications. Opportunities for students to conduct research in interdisciplinary research clusters will be offered at Markham Campus as part of their undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Yes, there will be ample opportunity to participate in research projects prior to the opening of the Markham Campus. The research clusters and projects will be established at the Keele Campus initially and then relocated to the Markham Campus. The established interdisciplinary research clusters will be built on our existing strengths at the Keele and Glendon campuses, and will have strong collaborative ties between all three campuses.
Yes, entrepreneurial programming delivered through YSpace Markham will support student and community entrepreneurs to develop, launch and grow their start-up ventures. In addition, students will be able to participate in entrepreneurial experiential learning opportunities within York Region's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Students and faculty members will also have the opportunity to translate research discoveries into economically and socially viable innovations and prototypes, connect with industry and community organizations, innovate and solve socially relevant problems and collaborate on new initiatives. Through all of these activities, students will develop and apply their entrepreneurial mindset.
Please contact Joycelyn Amos, Operations Manager, Markham Research at amosj@yorku.ca.
YSpace is York University’s community entrepreneurship hub. YSpace supports a growing number of entrepreneurs, community members, and youth to build and scale their sustainable and impactful businesses. Visit yspace.yorku.ca for more information.
Please contact David Kwok, Associate Director, Entrepreneurship, Innovation York at davekwok@yorku.ca
Construction
We do not have a live cam up. However, we do have a drone video on the Markham Campus website which provides an ariel view of the site as it is being prepared with the construction equipment. We also have still photos showing construction progress month by month. https://www.yorku.ca/markham/building-progress/
We will be posting one image a month and when the project is complete, we will create a time lapse video using those photos.
Jobs
Staffing models are currently under development and we look forward to sharing more information as soon as it becomes available.
Normal York hiring practices will be followed to ensure we hire the most qualified candidates for MC. Knowledge of the local community may be a valuable asset in the selection process. Principles of fairness and equity will be upheld
As positions are developed, they will be posted at: www.yorku.ca/jobs. Interested applicants can create a profile now and upload their resume so that they can apply quickly when they see a posting of interest.
Entrepreneurship
Start-up ventures can obtain entrepreneurship support through YSpace Markham, a 10,000 square foot physical incubator located down the street from where the Markham Campus will be located. YSpace Markham will be an integral part of the Markham Campus, supporting venture creation, as well as finding new and innovative ways to engage York University students in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
YSpace Markham is not only an important part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in York Region, but also specifically to entrepreneurship at York University, YSpace Markham will connect to other programs, units and Hubs on all of York’s campuses, to ensure that students, community entrepreneurs and start-up ventures can access the resources they need to be successful.
Additionally, YSpace Digital offers online training for entrepreneurs in different stages of their entrepreneurial journey. Regardless of location, YSpace Digital provides aspiring and established entrepreneurs with an opportunity to access support which is complimentary to many of the other programs on campus.
Through the Strategic Entrepreneurship Council, York is working to ensure that those on campus delivering curricular and co-curricular entrepreneurship programming are connected and working together. Ensuring that programs like YSpace, BEST, and Schulich Start-ups are working together to provide a network of support is a priority for York.