An award-winning campus – a title now bestowed on Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area after the new residence and academic building was recognized with a 2020 Ontario Concrete Award. 

Recognizing the talent and innovation of the best designers, contractors, suppliers and owners in the province, the 2020 Ontario Concrete Awards honoured Trent Durham’s expansion as winner of the mid- to high-rise residential precast project architectural category.

“We are proud to be a recipient of this provincial award, as it recognizes our new student residence and academic building as unlike anything in the area,” said Dr. Scott Henderson, dean and head of Trent University Durham GTA. “The building provides new opportunities for the University and the students who can now live on campus, allowing for a fully integrated postsecondary experience.”

The new six-story building features residence spaces – the first for Trent’s Durham campus – as well as classrooms, common areas, study spaces, walkways,  and lecture hall. Architectural features enhance design elements that create the uniquely Trent-themed structure and the building’s bold design anchors the campus within the City of Oshawa. The building focuses on student living, academics and learning, as well as the surrounding natural environment in a versatile format which promotes student living, play and study in a balanced light.

Speaking of the award, Michael Paul, senior vice president of Operations with Campus Living Centres (CLC), a development partner with the new building, said: “It’s been Campus Living Centre’s pleasure to work with Trent University on the expansion of the Oshawa campus. Subtle shifts have been made in the design all with the interest in providing a better student experience that helps create a culture of inclusiveness. Trent’s great design allows for an enhanced sense of community.”

Together with CLC, many other partners came together to make the new residence and academic building at Trent Durham a reality, including London Property Corporation, design architects Barry Bryan Associates, and materials supplier Stubbe’s Precast, who nominated the project for the award.

The new residence and academic building is a welcome addition to of the original Thornton Road Campus building, which opened in 2010 and was also designed by Barry Bryan Associates.