To mark the 100th anniversary of the University of Toronto's business studies program, which trains future leaders, the Rotman Commerce business studies program will have its own building on the St. George campus with the development of a new five-storey institute building. Designed by renowned Danish architecture firm 3XN, with Arcadis serving as both executive architect and landscape architect, the building comes a century after the program's first students graduated in June 1924.
Looking northwest towards the Rotman Commerce Building at the University of Toronto, designed by 3XN and Arcadis
The site is located at 90 Devonshire Place, south of Bloor Street and north of Hoskin Avenue. It currently occupies an empty parking lot directly south of the University of Toronto's Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport. The new five-storey Rotman Commerce building will consolidate the program's facilities, previously spread across four locations, into a single, contiguous space.
The Danish influence is clearly evident in the architectural vision, which can also be seen in other 3XN projects such as T3 Bayside, with an emphasis on natural materials and connectivity. This is evident in the building's floor plan, which features a terraced atrium running through the building, with diagonal double-height terraces that create a social spine designed to invite interaction and collaboration, directing the flow from communal spaces on the lower floors to quieter areas on the upper floors. The facade, with framed views of St Hilda's Lawn and the Varsity Centre, reinforces the connection to the campus.
Interior designed by 3XN and Arcadis
The massing will transition from the larger urban structures closer to Bloor Street to the north and the more intimate scale of St. Hilda's College to the south. From west to east, the design runs from the recently completed Woodsworth Academic Building to the Varsity Centre. Using warm wood tones and an open concept, the design ensures that abundant natural light dominates the interior spaces.
Looking southwest towards the Rotman Commerce Building at the University of Toronto, designed by 3XN and Arcadis
Rotman Commerce's new building will house a variety of facilities, including state-of-the-art classrooms, spacious student activity spaces, and designated areas for student clubs. Classrooms are located near the ground and second floors and are designed to efficiently handle the high daily foot traffic. The building will also have two underground floors to accommodate additional learning spaces and technology facilities.
Interior designed by 3XN and Arcadis
To create a supportive environment, it will also include key support units such as academic and professional services, student life and the professional skills centre. A large 200-seat event space and a café on the ground floor reinforce the building's role as a central meeting place.
Jens Holm, partner responsible for 3XN in North America, summarizes the company's vision as follows: “Our intention for the Rotman Commerce building is to create a space that prepares students for their future careers in business. … We wanted to create a space that ensures that networking and sharing ideas becomes part of users' everyday lives.” 3XN's holistic approach aims to ensure that the Rotman Commerce project serves as both an academic building and a center of activity and interaction.
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