Renovations are officially underway in the basement of the Sandford Fleming Building, with the promise of breathing new life into the Pit, one of U of T Engineering’s most iconic spaces.
Dating back to the 1960s, the Pit has served as a meeting ground and backdrop for treasured U of T Engineering traditions, including F!rosh and Godiva weeks. It’s become a place where students form lasting friendships and create unforgettable memories.
To pay tribute to the space, its legacy, and its role in shaping countless U of T Engineering journeys, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends have stepped up to support this exciting transformation project. Recently, the Engineering Society (EngSoc) pledged a generous $1 million gift in support the Pit revitalization project.
Rebecca Cheung caught up with EngSoc President Ken Hilton (Year 4 CompE), about why the Pit is so important to students and community building, what he’s looking forward to with the renovation and his favourite moments in the space.
In many ways, EngSoc has championed the Pit renovation project. Can you say more about why the Pit is so special to U of T Engineering students?
As any current or recent Engineering student will know, the Pit is our main third place — a space outside of home and school where we can connect and build community. It’s the site and centre of a plethora of different student activities, from annual traditions such as Godiva Week to casual assembly of builds to regular daytime studying and schoolwork. Its location in the heart of the U of T Engineering precinct and the fact that it’s home to our commercial operations — including Suds, the Hard Hat Café and the Engineering Stores — as well as the EngSoc offices, are also key reasons that the Pit is the hub for Engineering student life on campus.
In recognition of that value, EngSoc has committed a $1M gift towards the Pit renovation project to revitalize the space and make it more welcoming and accessible, lowering the barrier to participating in all of our traditional Pit activities.
Many U of T Engineering alumni and upper years remember the Pit as the go-to place to hang out. Why do you think it’s important for students to have spaces on campus to unwind and relax?
Simply put, if there are no spaces to unwind and relax, then there will be no unwinding nor relaxation. Skule™ is a tight-knit community, and it takes a village to raise a village. Spaces like the Pit allow us to build that community and those relationships that prevent our academics from driving us up the wall. During this temporary unavailability of the Pit because of the renovation, there’s been a partial sense of disconnection that EngSoc is making efforts to mitigate. It’s shown us just how crucial a central place to come together and chill is to our mental health and wellness.
There’s a lot to be excited about! The new-and-improved Pit will be accessible and feature comfortable seating lounges and study halls, a green wall, dining options and a well-lit atrium. What are you most looking forward to about the new space?
Others will have different answers to this, but I’m most looking forward to seeing how Suds makes use of the new A/V lighting system that’s being installed. Previously, the audio and lighting relied on portable units, which, to their credit, are effective, but I’m excited to see how this new system is integrated into the space and improves the events we run.
Additionally, the Sandford Fleming and Galbraith buildings, in which the Pit resides, require accessibility upgrades. Though those buildings have a ways to go, I’m looking forward to the installation of an accessible ramp into the Pit. Stairs present a challenge or barrier to some members of our community, and the ramp will allow more people to be included in builds, dancing and many other Pit traditions, and feel more connected to the Skule™ community.
What’s your favourite memory of hanging out in the Pit?
There are too many to call one a favorite, but one that sticks out in my mind is an extended, semi-philosophical, late-night conversation I had, while sitting on the edge of the Pit, with a number of friends, about how neurodivergent we all were. It was comforting and fun to explore the topic in a setting that I knew was a safe space.
Several friends of U of T Engineering, including alumni, have stepped up to pledge their support for the Pit renovation. Their support is helping make this renovation possible. What would you like to say to them?
I cannot overstate the Engineering Society’s gratitude to you for your support for what will be a genuine improvement to our student lives. If we cross paths in the renovated Pit, as I hope we do, drinks at Suds are on me!
Learn more about how U of T Engineering is transforming the Pit to meet the needs of the next generation of thinkers, builders and leaders.
