School of Cities

Last updated

School of Cities
School of Cities logo.svg
EstablishedJuly 1, 2018 (2018-07-01) [1]
Research typeExtra-departmental unit
Director
Karen Chapple [2]
Location Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Operating agency
Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Toronto
Website schoolofcities.utoronto.ca

The School of Cities is a research centre dedicated to urban study and education at the University of Toronto. [3] The centre is an extra-departmental unit (EDU) comprised of faculty from the university's three campuses and visiting professors from other institutions, with the goal of consolidating urban-focused academics from various divisions, such as Engineering, Architecture, and Public Health. [4] [1]

Contents

The centre is directed by Karen Chapple, a professor of urban planning in the Department of Geography and Planning who also holds the Carmel P. Friesen Chair in Urban Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. [2] It is based in the Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship on the St. George campus in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Research

The University of Toronto's St. George campus in the downtown core of the city View of Toronto.jpeg
The University of Toronto's St. George campus in the downtown core of the city

Established in 2018 by the Faculty of Arts and Science Council, the School of Cities utilizes its position in Toronto, the largest city in Canada, which has allowed for faculty in the School of Cities to be at the centre of urban growth and influence policy in public sectors. [2] [5] Toronto's recent growth and development going into the twenty-first century has made it the fifth-largest urban area in North America.

It publishes regular reports and interactive tools for data visualization based on statistics gathered from the city and the Greater Toronto Area in metrics such as economics, housing, density, and climate. [5] [2]

The School of Cities hosts several urban- and urban planning-related undergraduate courses at the University of Toronto and offers fellowships for postgraduate students. [6]

Affiliated centres

The centre is comprised of and affiliated with several interdisciplinary initiatives. [7] These include:

References

  1. 1 2 Levine, Romi (May 4, 2018). "U of T's new School of Cities to bring wide-ranging experts together to address urban challenges". U of T News.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Freeman, Joshua (October 9, 2025). "Interactive tool from UofT researchers shows where tariffs could hit Ontario hardest". CP24.
  3. "Cities Centre, University of Toronto". Canada Commons. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  4. "University of Toronto". Maclean's. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "University of Toronto study examines soaring costs to build transit". CityNews Toronto. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  6. Lau, Larry (January 24, 2022). "School of Cities release report on upcoming projects and initiatives". The Medium.
  7. "Affiliated Initiatives". School of Cities. Retrieved November 5, 2025.

Official website