Frequent late night construction on Ryerson’s upcoming Centre for Urban Innovation has been disrupting the sleep and study of some students who live close by.
The centre, set to open later this year, is being built in place of the old theatre school at 44 Gerrard St. E., next door to the Campus Commons student housing building.
But, some students have noticed construction taking place on the building after official city hours. Simone Gregory, a second-year OCAD student living in Campus Commons, has been dealing with the noise over the last couple of months.
According to Toronto noise bylaws, official construction hours are between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Construction companies, however, can apply for noise bylaw exemptions, and exceptions can be made for emergency situations.
“Sometimes I like to keep my window open because it gets hot in my room. The noise is so loud that I can’t even sleep with it open and I just end up being hot inside,” said Gregory.
Sean Stewart, a second-year RTA student who’s been living in Campus Commons for the past year is also frustrated with the construction.
“They’re up at 6 a.m. sometimes and it always keeps me up,” said Stewart, whose room faces the construction. According to Stewart, it was especially annoying in the summertime, when it was hot outside and he wanted to crack open a window.
“It’s unbearable,” added second-year history student, Kimberly Blaho.
Muhammad Kamran, a first-year engineering student, has to put on headphones whenever he studies because of the noise.
“It hasn’t happened too often but when it does, it’s disturbing,” said Kamran.
According to some students, there are only four or five levels to the building and the most noise is made when concrete is being poured for a new level. They don’t understand why some of the heavier construction can’t take place earlier during the day.
As part of the Toronto Municipal Code, under construction bylaws, it states that “subsection B does not apply to the continuous pouring of concrete, large crane work, necessary municipal work and emergency work that cannot be performed during regular business hours.”
When asked to comment about the situation, Jennifer Nelson, a representative from PCL – the company in charge of the construction – responded in a statement to the Ryersonian that PCL has been attending Ryerson residence meetings on a regular basis to address concerns.
“If instances where off-hours work is necessary, PCL ensures that we are working within the allowable exemptions of the relevant city bylaw and noise exemption permits are in place before completing any off-hours work,” she said in an email response to the Ryersonian.
Nelson did not respond to inquiries about the concrete pouring schedule.
“It’s the last thing I want to come home to after a long day at school. Especially if it goes on until 12 a.m. because it’s only a few hours till the true noise starts on the dot at 7 a.m.,” said Gregory.