An elementary school will be fully integrated within a new mixed-use condominium in downtown Toronto. Ontario is collaborating with Menkes Developments and the Toronto District School Board on this provincial first and investing $44 million into the project.

The Lower Yonge Precinct Elementary School will be situated at the podium level, offering more student spaces for the lower Yonge and waterfront neighbourhoods.  Minister of Education Stephen Lecce said the model could be replicated in other developments as a solution to solve educational access in urban high-density settings.

“We are thrilled to build Canada’s first elementary school that is completely integrated within a high-density mixed-use development right in downtown Toronto,” said Stephanie Donaldson, Trustee, Ward 9, Davenport and Spadina – Fort York. “This is great news for students in the area and an exciting opportunity for the Toronto District School Board to shape an innovative urban school model that can be used across Ontario and Canada.”

The project is part of a newly announced province-wide investment of more than $600 million to support new school and child care spaces, which is part of a larger $14 billion to fund school construction over 10 years.

There are currently more than 300 child care and education building-related projects in development across Ontario with more than 100 actively under construction.