Our Spaces
Located in the heart of campus, we operate two rooftop farms just steps away from Toronto鈥檚 busiest intersection. These locations serve not only as spaces to grow fresh produce, but also allow us to conduct user-driven research in urban agriculture, support Indigenous- and Black-led programming and engagement and serve as community gathering spaces.
ENG rooftop farm
Converted from a green roof to a quarter-acre farm in 2014, the rooftop farm at the George Vari Engineering & Computing Centre (ENG) serves as a production space, growing approximately 2,500 kg of fresh produce each year.
DCC rooftop farm
Our newest location, the Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex (DCC) rooftop farm, is Toronto鈥檚 first purpose-built green roof for food production under the city's and is dedicated to Indigenous Foodways and Black Food Sovereignty.
Space overview and specs
Location |
George Vari Engineering & Computing Centre (ENG) |
|---|---|
Capacity |
60 people |
Gathering space |
|
Growing system |
Total growing space is about a quarter acre (10,000 ft虏). The main crop production space has 21 60鈥 long permanent raised beds. Beds measure 30鈥 wide and 10-12鈥 deep with paths that are 18鈥 wide and 2鈥 deep. Drip irrigation system. Portable sprinkler as needed. |
Wash station |
Stainless steel, featuring work benches, a three tub sink and hand washing sink. Includes a hose and washdown gun for spraying crops. |
Post-harvest processing and cold storage |
Plastic folding tables (x2) for organizing and packing harvest orders. Includes an outdoor storage bin for supplies. There is no cold storage on site. |
Office and storage |
Packing table desk for short tasks, safety and records management, metal pegboard for tool storage, rolling shelves for farm supplies. |
| Access the ENG roof | To access the primary entrance to the ENG roof, community members will take the main elevator up to the fourth floor and will take the north stairwell up one flight of stairs to the rooftop鈥檚 fifth floor entrance. The main entrance is a 32鈥 wide exterior doorway. A secondary entrance to the rooftop primarily used for deliveries or when transporting produce is also available. The secondary entrance can be accessed by taking the freight elevator to the fifth floor mechanical room, where a few steps lead out onto the rooftop. The mechanical room has a 32鈥 wide exterior doorway. A temporary ramp measuring 37鈥 wide with a 1:12 slope can be set up upon request. |
Location |
Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex (DCC) |
|---|---|
Capacity |
140 people |
Gathering space |
Approximately 68鈥 x 25鈥 with steel frame pergola (under construction). |
Growing system |
Permanent raised beds in the main crop production space. Total in-ground growing space is approximately 372 m虏 (4,004 ft虏). Planter growing space of approximately 52 m虏 (560 ft虏). Portable sprinklers as needed. |
Greenhouse |
Produces seedlings for the Urban Farm鈥檚 two rooftop growing spaces. Approximately 18鈥 x 22鈥 steel frame greenhouse with tempered glass walls and twinwall polycarbonate roof. Manual shade, automated ventilation, electric heating via heat pump and supplementary resistance heat (under construction). |
Wash station, post-harvest processing and cold storage |
Interior post-harvest room is approximately 21鈥 x 13鈥 with sliding barn doors. Features a three tub sink, 20 gal electric salad spinner and hand washing sink (all stainless steel). 20-tier stainless steel herb drying rack. Roll-in refrigerator. |
Storage |
Tool storage room approximately 9鈥 x 15鈥. Rolling metal shelves for farm supplies. |
Access the DCC roof |
To access the DCC roof, community members may take the elevator to the 8th floor interior lobby. The exterior door to the farm is 44鈥 wide. |
A note about our space overview and specs
Our space overview and specs have been provided for general reference. In creating these spaces, we were limited by overall building design requirements and do not necessarily endorse or recommend all features or dimensions of these spaces.
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