Hybrid office space for post-pandemic era makes new home at Toronto college
Executives at George Brown College showed off a new downtown hybrid workspace Monday as employees return to the office following COVID-19 lockdowns.
They held a tour of their staff offices at 230 Richmond Street East campus, which now include large rooms with desks, collaborative spaces and meeting rooms equipped with technology.
The $1.9 million pilot project has been in the works for nearly two years as the college discovered through a survey that 80 per cent of its employees want work from home options.
The college said the new space is a way to support staff and show flexibility wherever they are working.
Juanita Wattam-Simeon oversees the academic quality unit. She has missed the office and is enjoying seeing colleagues again, while being able to work with people who are not physically in the office.
“Today I’ve had an in-person meeting, two meetings online, one over there, one over here, so I love it. I really do love,” she said.
The new office opened in mid-September and employees are encouraged to come in two to three days a week. They can book a spot from home or through an app by selecting a spot in green on a map of the office.
There are desks where people can choose to sit or stand. That desk may be next to a colleague from their department or someone they may have never met before.
Privacy is still an option at the hybrid office, as it is equipped with several sound proof booths for phone and video calls.
In total there are about 450 seats for 220 employees. They can also invite students or members of the community into the workspace.
“One of the key functions of us as a post-secondary institution is to maintain a sense of campus culture for our students so we wanted employees to come back some of the time,” said Graeme Kondruss, manager of work planning at the college.
President Gervan Fearon said having staff return downtown is part of the city’s financial recovery.
“[It] will not only help us, but it will animate and reanimate the communities and neighbourhoods around us,” he said.
Toronto Mayor John Tory was invited to see the space. He says some companies are also adopting the model.
“This is work that is really important to the well being of the city, and its economy and the people most importantly, who here and who work elsewhere,” said Tory
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL has suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.