Positioned at the intersection of Morningside Avenue and Military Trail, SAMIH stands as an important gateway to U of T Scarborough and is the first building you see when you enter the north campus. The academy considers the university’s future development which will re-align Military Trail along the north of the building where there are plans for a new LRT line. There are plans to transform the original Military Trail into a new pedestrian spine that connects the south campus, making SAMIH an important node for public transportation and pedestrian connection.

The building is characterised by a dynamic five-storey atrium – a ‘fissure in a boulder’ – that reveals the activity inside and establishes a pedestrian artery that runs through the central axis of the building. Providing unobstructed views to the exterior and allowing for more natural light to penetrate the interior, the atrium forms the ‘beating heart’ of the building, connecting the academy with the public while offering collaborative learning environments where teachers, students, and faculty can lounge and interact with one another. The atrium splits the building’s programme, with the offices and classrooms on the western side and labs on the east, connected by walkways on each level. Windows in the atrium provide a glimpse into the activities beyond, such as a ground-floor café and seating areas for studying and meeting with friends. For pedestrians passing through on their way to the rest of the university’s Scarborough campus, the impression will be of a lively building with a mix of intriguing activities taking place.