 | |
| Established | July 1, 2018[1] |
|---|---|
| Research type | Extra-departmental unit |
Director | Karen Chapple[2] |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada 43°39′39″N 79°23′47″W / 43.66083°N 79.39639°W |
Operating agency | University of Toronto Faculty of Arts and Science |
| 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) composed 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]
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
[edit]
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
[edit]The centre works on and is affiliated with several interdisciplinary initiatives.[7] These include:
- Infrastructure Institute
- Institute on Municipal Finance & Governance
- Housing Justice Lab
- Urban Policy Lab (in partnership with the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy)
- Urban Data Research Centre
- Mobility Network
- Creative Communities Commons
References
[edit]- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b c d Freeman, Joshua (October 9, 2025). "Interactive tool from UofT researchers shows where tariffs could hit Ontario hardest". CP24.
- ^ "Cities Centre, University of Toronto". Canada Commons. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "University of Toronto". Maclean's. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ a b "University of Toronto study examines soaring costs to build transit". CityNews Toronto. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ Lau, Larry (January 24, 2022). "School of Cities release report on upcoming projects and initiatives". The Medium.
- ^ "Affiliated Initiatives". School of Cities. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
