Oshawa’s Ontario Tech University has announced plans to develop a new property in the city’s downtown.

The university already owns and operates a building at 61 Charles Street. On July 22, it announced the purchase of an adjacent parcel of land at 154 Bruce Street. The university says the purchase signals “exciting new growth opportunities for Ontario Tech in downtown Oshawa in the coming decades.”

Ontario Tech plans to open a request for proposals process to explore its options for developing the Bruce Street property. This may include connecting a new multi-storey structure to the existing 61 Charles Street Building, creating a new academic hub as well as commercial spaces.

“Our new Bruce Street property is a vital component of Ontario Tech University’s strategic vision to have purpose-built and high-tech facilities in downtown Oshawa,” said university president and vice-chancellor Dr. Steven Murphy “This academic hub is an investment in our future, as we look for more ways to deliver flexible and dynamic learning while meeting the needs of our growing campus community.”

Proposals for the new building will consider the university’s academic functions and establish the optimal footprint for future use that is mutually beneficial for the community.

Construction is anticipated to begin in 2027, with the building being operational by 2030.

“The City of Oshawa is thrilled that Ontario Tech University is continuing to invest in downtown Oshawa with the purchase of 154 Bruce Street,” said Mayor Dan Carter. “This new space will support the future growth and expansion of Ontario Tech’s vibrant downtown campus location where almost 3,000 students, faculty and staff bring a creative and exciting energy to our downtown.”

Ontario Tech University has maintained a campus presence at its downtown Oshawa location for the past 15 years. The university’s Faculty of Education and Faculty of Social Science and Humanities have long had their homes in downtown Oshawa, and the university’s historic Regent Theatre on King Street East now enters its second century as a lecture theatre by day and community events venue by night.

Pictured: Schematic diagram of potential iteration of future multi-storey building (coloured) at Ontario Tech University's downtown Oshawa campus location (looking northeast), adjacent to the 61 Charles Street Building (left). Charles Street appears in the lower-left corner; Bruce Street appears in the lower-right corner.