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Renovation Projects

Facilities Management and Development plans and executes renewal projects to support TMU’s ongoing growth and evolution, breathing new life into outdated spaces and maximizing their potential. Renovation projects include facility improvements, the customization of leased spaces ("fit-out") as well as maintenance to repair and replace end-of-life building components.

Featured project: Oakham Cafe renovation

Oakham House is a heritage building constructed in 1848. The building has been a part of Toronto Metropolitan University since the 1950s, serving early on as a student residence, student union offices and event space. It is now a part of the Student Campus Centre (SCC) — the central hub and heart of student life on campus.

Serving the Oakham Café, the Ram in the Rye pub and all catering for the event spaces in the building and around campus, the Oakham House kitchen facility was hard pressed to meet the demands with its modest layout. The kitchen, café and dining areas were redesigned to make the space more efficient. The renovated kitchen and seating area will provide an enhanced guest experience and better support for the popular menu.

What’s new for café visitors

When you next visit Oakham Café for one of Toronto’s best all-day breakfasts, you will find that the grab-and-go counter has had a makeover and the original brick fireplace has been uncovered after many years hidden behind drywall and a slate façade.

The familiar ceramic tiles were carefully matched to make sure the vivid design continues in the the new layout of the seating area and vintage lighting fixtures were added as an accent in the space.

About Oakham House

Oakham House and the TMU Student Campus Centre (external link)  are operated by the Palin Foundation. The Palin Foundation is an independent not-for-profit corporation and its Board of Directors is comprised of representatives from the Toronto Metropolitan University Students’ Union, the Continuing Education Students’ Association at Toronto Metropolitan Univesity, and Toronto Metropolitan University.

You can find out more about the Oakham House and Home history at Toronto Metropolitan University Archives and Special Collections.

Renewal projects gallery: Before and after

Visit our Renovations Gallery for more photographs of campus spaces that demonstrate how we revitalize and modernize our existing campus facilities to continually improve our spaces for students, faculty and staff.