Durham College and City of Oshawa TeachingCity partnership turns student projects into civic solutions
Durham College and the City of Oshawa’s TeachingCity partnership engages students across programs in civic projects: Architectural Technology students reimagined properties along a planned transit corridor; the Mixed Reality Capture Studio will hire three Game–Art graduates to build a firefighter leadership training app; six student artworks were installed on the Joseph Kolodzie Bike Trail; projects also include Ed Broadbent Park digital wayfinding and emergency communications placements.
Through TeachingCity, Durham College connects coursework with municipal priorities to deliver hands‑on learning and community benefits. Architectural Technology students assessed policy, market and cost factors, proposing designs prioritizing affordable housing, sustainability and pedestrian experience and presenting them to City planning staff. The college’s Mixed Reality Capture Studio will employ three recent Game–Art graduates to co‑develop a mixed‑reality application that simulates building assessments for firefighter leadership training. Fine Arts students had six works selected for wayfinding along the Joseph Kolodzie Bike Trail, while other student projects contributed digital wayfinding at Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park and placements with Oshawa Fire Services’ communications team.