University set to move back to Bloor Street 

McMaster University, founded in 1887, is set to open a new campus in Toronto. 

The University, founded in Toronto, will be moving back to its first home in Toronto. 

The new building will open its doors at 180 Bloor Street, across from its first location at 273 Bloor Street, where it was first founded. This is now home to the Royal Conservatory of Music. The new site will be an 8000-square-foot event and collaborative learning space. 

“While Hamilton will always be home, McMaster’s presence in downtown Toronto will be a place to welcome students, alumni, business, government leaders, and the world,” says McMaster president David Farrar. 

“This prime location will give our scholars, researchers, students, alumni, and staff a new hub for making connections and tackling local and global issues.” 

Plenty of space for all faculties 

The Business, Engineering, and Health Sciences faculties are working together on the design of the new location to ensure the space is well suited for education and learning, as well as hosting partners for meetings and events. The plan is for all McMaster faculties to move to the new location and enjoy the upgraded and updated space. 

The new building will also incorporate administrative offices and an in-house information center for prospective students. 

“McMaster’s new Toronto location will feature a modern reception and learning space designed for flexibility and dialogue,” says Khaled Hassanein, Dean of the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster. 

“Its architectural features are inspired by Mac alumnus Michael Lee-Chin’s ‘Crystal’ at the Royal Ontario Museum. We are proud to re-establish a physical presence in downtown Toronto, where we have so many active students, alumni, and industry partners.” 

When McMaster University was founded, it was called McMaster Hall on Bloor Street and offered courses in theology and arts. Its main campus moved from Toronto to Hamilton in 1930 and was established there. 

“The McMaster site at 180 Bloor will produce exciting opportunities to interact with a wide range of partners on shared initiatives and to build on our success with Toronto-based collaborators. Student spaces will present the opportunity for short courses and other interactions. We’re very much looking forward to this new environment and the positive 

experiences it offers for our community and partners,” says Heather Sheardown, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. 

McMaster University constantly ranks amongst the top 100 universities worldwide and is well respected. 

The university has locations in downtown Hamilton, Burlington, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Niagara. The new site is set to open before the end of 2022.