Real Estate Strategy
Drawing on our extensive real estate expertise, we create iconic city spaces that cater to the needs of residents, students, and visitors alike. Our developments honour local culture and contribute to economic growth. We craft these spaces with a keen awareness of current needs and future desires, fostering meaningful connections between people and their communities.
What is 4 Corners?
Four Corners is a double-bottom-line real estate strategy that advances the academic mission of the University by providing high-quality innovation space, student and faculty housing and ancillary retail near our three campuses while generating risk-appropriate returns for the University. It is managed by the University’s Real Estate department and offers exclusive development and leasing access to unique University-owned properties in some of the GTA’s most desirable locations, while providing the University with needed facilities and unprecedented new and sustainable revenue. The developments are design-forward and respect neighbourhood context and incorporate community consultation.
3.5 Million Sq. Ft for Downtown Toronto
The strategy, approved in November 2018, incorporates commercially viable projects with financial returns that will be put toward future academic investments. The University has established an ambitious goal of developing roughly 3.5 million SF of new space around the downtown campus. This square footage will be devoted to campus services and amenities, including housing and ancillary office retail space. Revenue will be used to create a strategic investment fund which will advance U of T’s research and teaching mission, and in the future, match the annual revenue generated by U of T’s endowment.
Unique Objectives
U of T’s “4 Corners” development strategy is unique for another reason: U of T is leveraging its considerable experience in designing, developing and managing buildings to keep its real-estate development work in-house. The University wants to maintain as much control as possible over the properties it develops and within its partnerships, to maximize benefits to the University.
The University will take an active management role in all third-party partnerships to:
- Protect the University’s academic mission interests
- Enhance the campus environment
- Manage the University’s risk
Read the Complete 4 Corners Strategy
Through a set of goals, objectives, and strategies, the Framework provides UofT and its stakeholders with a clear and consistent approach to evaluate a wide range of projects and opportunities.
