Project adds close to 1,400 beds to TMU’s student housing in downtown Toronto
Toronto, ON – [December 4, 2025] – Arcadis is proud to be selected by Cedar Podium Investment Management as Design Architect and Architect of Record for Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) new 21-storey, purpose-built student housing project. In addition, Arcadis is also providing interior design services for the building’s academic spaces, including the auditoriums and study areas. The Bond Street residence building will add 1,382 beds to TMU’s downtown campus, significantly expanding access to affordable student accommodation in the city’s core.
Backed by an $83 million investment from the Government of Ontario’s Building Ontario Fund, the first student housing project to receive financing through the fund, the Bond Street development will more than double the capacity of student housing, from 1,144 to 2,526 beds. The residence will offer 393 suite-style units, most following a three-bedroom model that combines private and shared rooms. Each suite will include an eat-in kitchen, offering students an alternative to traditional meal-plan living. Residence rates are anticipated to remain significantly below average rental market rates in Toronto.
Designed to support both academic and residential needs, Arcadis designed the building’s two large auditoriums, along with building-wide lounges, study areas, and creative spaces, in partnership with Cedar Podium Investment Management.
“TMU’s newest residence is an excellent example of how we can address the student housing gap in a major city and leverage design and planning to make the most of the site,” said Mansoor Kazerouni, Global Director of Architecture and Urbanism at Arcadis. “From a design perspective, by including auditoriums and study areas, we can truly maximize the Building Ontario Fund investment and create a purpose-built residence that is vibrant, connected, and inclusive.”
Located on a key axis between TMU’s main campus and Sankofa Square (formerly, Yonge–Dundas Square), the residence introduces a contemporary form defined by two distinct vertical volumes wrapped in a striking bronze-and-white façade pattern. Kazerouni notes, “The building’s chiselled corner facing the TMU campus, which is accented with the university’s colours, marks a highly visible and deliberate entrance point.”
The development will be delivered in partnership with Cedar Podium Investment Management, with excavation slated to begin in 2026.
