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Links:
+ Room for all faiths - Globe and Mail
+ Open Faith - Canadian Architect
+ Multifaith Centre holds opening ceremonies - NEWS@UofT
+ Architect's Design Description
+ Multi Faith Nominated For Leaf Award
+ University of Toronto

Awards:
+ Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), Design Excellence Award
+ Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), People's Choice Award
+ IESNA Illumination Design Award - Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design

Institutions across North America have been grappling with the issue of how to accommodate the spiritual needs of their students and create opportunities for interfaith dialogue and exploration while remaining true to their secular mandates. The solution to accommodating burgeoning diversity and interest in spirituality at many North American universities has been to create so-called multifaith spaces.

The purpose of the Multi Faith Centre is to support the spiritual well-being of students, staff and faculty and to increase the understanding and respect for religious beliefs and practices.

The objectives of the Centre are as simple as to provide a dignified space for daily spiritual contemplation and as complex as to examine the role of religious practice and spiritual development in the preparation of students for leadership in the global community.

The modest budget was poured into an internal renovation of the existing Koffler Centre creating a sequencing of the spaces that provided gradual distancing from the secular environment to the Main Activity or Prayer Hall. Also included in the programme is a multipurpose room and food serveries, ablution (ritual cleansing) facilities and contemplative spaces including a room which features an expansive Bio Wall.