Two major capital projects at Trent University’s Symons Campus in Peterborough are moving forward with construction, adding 1,400 student beds and about 134,000 square feet of academic, social and administrative space, according to Ontario Construction News. For glazing contractors in the Peterborough area, the new Gidigaa Migizi College and Otonabee College residence represent a substantial package of fenestration work, although the project documents released so far do not specify window or curtain wall performance requirements.
The two buildings are being developed through a partnership involving Trent University, Knightstone Capital Management, the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) and the Building Ontario Fund (BOF), with $100 million in BOF financing. FRAM Building Group is the contractor, and Diamond Schmitt Architects and Two Row Architect are providing architectural services.
Project scope and partners
The Gidigaa Migizi College will include large lecture halls, a student services hub, a rooftop event space and an outdoor pavilion with views of the campus and Otonabee River, Ontario Construction News reported. The new Otonabee College residence will add student housing and communal spaces. Both buildings will be fully accessible.
For glazing subcontractors, the two buildings offer more than 134,000 square feet of new space, including a rooftop event venue and an outdoor pavilion designed to capture campus and river views. Those program elements typically rely on large-format glazing, curtain wall assemblies, and storefront systems, but neither Ontario Construction News nor ReNew Canada has reported fenestration specifications, performance targets, or bid timing.
In Ontario, fenestration requirements for institutional projects of this scale are governed by the Ontario Building Code and commonly reference CSA A440 for windows and doors and the North American Fenestration Standard (NAFS) for product ratings. Project specifications will determine whether the work includes unitized curtain wall, punched windows, or storefront assemblies. Until construction drawings or prequalification documents are released, the exact glazing package remains undefined.
Architectural team and Indigenous design
Two Row Architect, a 100 per cent Indigenous-owned firm based at Six Nations of the Grand River, is part of the architectural team with Diamond Schmitt Architects. Ontario Construction News noted the firm has worked on incorporating Indigenous cultural knowledge and teachings into contemporary architectural design. That design influence may extend to exterior envelope choices, including glazing, though no specific fenestration treatments have been announced.
Financing and repayment structure
The Building Ontario Fund is providing $100 million, which will be repaid after the residences are occupied and generating revenue, then reinvested into other projects across six priority areas including affordable housing, energy, transportation, long-term care, municipal and community infrastructure, and critical minerals, according to ReNew Canada. The financing is structured to be repaid through a future refinancing agreement after construction is complete.
Completion timing differs slightly between the two reports. Ontario Construction News reported the projects are expected to be completed by fall 2029, while ReNew Canada reported construction is expected to be completed in August 2029. Both sources agree the additional residence capacity is intended to reduce pressure on Peterborough’s rental market.
Building envelope and fenestration implications
The addition of 1,400 student beds in two new college buildings means the exterior envelope will include extensive fenestration, though the published information does not break out the window or curtain wall budget. The Gidigaa Migizi College’s rooftop event space and outdoor pavilion with views of the Otonabee River are the kind of architectural elements that typically involve curtain wall and storefront systems to maximize daylight and sightlines. In the Canadian market, these systems must meet the structural and air/water performance requirements set out in NAFS and CSA A440, and they are often specified to meet ENERGY STAR Canada's climate-zone-specific criteria. However, the project team has not confirmed any of those details.
What glazing contractors should watch for
Glazing subcontractors in Peterborough and the broader Ontario market should track Trent University's prequalification and tender notices for the Gidigaa Migizi College and Otonabee College residence. The project's $100 million budget and 134,000 square feet of new academic and social space make it one of the larger institutional fenestration opportunities currently underway in the region.
In Ontario, energy efficiency requirements for windows and curtain wall generally reference ENERGY STAR Canada and align with the Ontario Building Code, but the project team has not published specific U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient, or visible transmittance targets for these buildings.
- Location: Symons Campus, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario
- New beds: 1,400
- New space: Approximately 134,000 square feet
- Buildings: Gidigaa Migizi College and new Otonabee College residence
- Financing: $100 million through Building Ontario Fund
- Contractor: FRAM Building Group
- Architects: Diamond Schmitt Architects and Two Row Architect
- Completion: Fall 2029 (Ontario Construction News) or August 2029 (ReNew Canada)
Statements from project partners
In a statement reported by ReNew Canada, Ontario Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Nolan Quinn said the expansion is about "ensuring that more students can focus on getting the skills they need to launch rewarding, good-paying careers" while supporting Trent’s long-term growth and sustainability.
Michael Fedchyshyn, CEO of the Building Ontario Fund, said the partnership with Trent, HOOPP and Knightstone Capital Management will deliver much-needed student housing, attract institutional capital to Ontario, and create a model that can be replicated across the province.
The Building Ontario Fund's reinvestment priorities include energy and affordable housing, two sectors where high-performance glazing plays a central role in meeting building performance and occupant comfort goals. While the Trent University project documents do not yet specify energy targets, the provincial focus on energy across BOF's portfolio signals continued demand for fenestration products that support building envelope performance.