SDG 11 - Strategic Initiatives
Public Access: buildings, museums, cultural spaces, landscapes
Western University offers public access to various cultural and educational spaces, including museums, galleries, and exhibition areas. These venues provide opportunities for the community to engage with science, art, and history. Each space is open to the public and showcases unique collections, exhibitions, and programs that contribute to education and cultural enrichment.
- Cronyn Observatory: Established in 1940, the Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory at Western offers free public stargazing events, educational presentations, and period rooms.
- McIntosh Gallery: Founded in 1942, this public art gallery offers exhibitions and visual arts education. Admission is free but donations are appreciated.
- Museum of Ontario Archaeology: Established in 1933, this not-for-profit Affiliated Research Institute holds over two million Indigenous and Pioneer artifacts.
- ArtLab at Western University: Ongoing student exhibitions are showcased for public viewing throughout the academic year.
- Archives and Special Collections: Located in Weldon Library, this collection includes rare books, monographs, and serials with a particular emphasis on the history of southwestern Ontario. Collections are available for free public viewing.
- Wampum Learning Lodge: This intercultural public space is dedicated to Indigenous knowledge, featuring the sacred Ceremonial Arbour for respectful gatherings. The Lodge advances Reconciliation, Indigenization, and decolonization through collaborative programs with Indigenous communities and Western’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives.
- University College: One of the oldest buildings on campus, this structure is symbolic of Western and one of the most photographed buildings on campus.
- Sherwood Fox Arboretum: A botanical collection of planted and cultivated trees and shrubs that are used for scientific, educational, conservation, and ornamental purposes that thrive in our climate.
- St. John’s Chapel: The Chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and available to the entire community as a calm, quiet space for prayer, reflection, and meditation. We warmly welcome people from every background and faith.
- Western Libraries: All of Western’s libraries are open to the public to browse for free and have guest borrowing options.
Campus Tours are available year-round and include visits to faculty buildings, residences, libraries, and more.
Public Access: libraries, books, and publications
Western University provides public access to its libraries, allowing visitors to browse collections for free. With the removal of borrowing fees for individuals and organizations, community members have greater access to books and publications for research, professional development, advocacy, and more. For more detailed information on borrowing options, you can visit Western Libraries’ Visitor Borrowing Options. The library provides information about accessing open content online that is free of charge. The Faculty of Education also hosts an Open Resources Page, providing open and free content for students and the community.
Green Spaces
Western provides free public access to our open spaces and green spaces. Our campus grounds encompass nearly 500 hectares within the Carolinian Life Zone, the most biodiverse region in Canada. The Deshkan Ziibi (Thames River) flows through our grounds, home to various species, including the at-risk spiny softshell turtle. Western campus borders the Medway Valley Heritage Forest, an environmentally significant area.
The Campus as a Living Lab program brings together collaborations of faculty, staff, students, community, and industry partners. Community members walk or cycle along the Thames Valley Parkway, which winds along the river directly onto campus.
Western University’s Open Space Strategy focuses on preserving the natural environment and enhancing conservation efforts. It affirms that “the campus’ collection of historic buildings, natural amenities and public open spaces are fundamental to the image of Western.”
Everyone is invited to explore campus by booking free in-person or virtual tours.
Record and Preserve Cultural Heritage
Western undertakes several initiatives to record and preserve intangible cultural heritage, including local folklore, traditions, language, and knowledge. Here are a few notable projects:
- Indigenous Language Revitalization: Western is actively involved in preserving Indigenous languages, which are a crucial part of Canada’s cultural heritage. This includes developing strategies and innovative approaches to language revitalization, such as using digital technologies and online platforms to enhance access to resources.
- Archives and Special Collections: Western is dedicated to acquiring, preserving, and providing access to special collections and archives, with a particular focus on the local history of southwestern Ontario, especially London and Middlesex County, as well as Canadian literature and history, Ontario’s private and small presses, Canadian travel and explorations, and provincial textbooks.
- Community Engagement Projects: Faculty members, such as those in the Anthropology department, engage in projects that explore colonialism and the legacies of heritage in various communities. These projects often involve community engagement to preserve and value communal heritage.
- Neighbourhood History Project: This project collects and shares local London stories to preserve community heritage. The stories are presented at the local public library for the whole community to enjoy.
- Wampum Learning Lodge: This intercultural teaching, learning, and gathering space is designed with Indigenous epistemologies and pedagogies at its core. It facilitates and coordinates services and programming offered by Western’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives, advancing reconciliation, Indigenization, and decolonization, thereby preserving and promoting Indigenous cultural heritage.
- The Museum of Ontario Archaeology: Located on the ancestral territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Munsee-Delaware First Nations of this region, the museum recognizes that it holds and cares for archaeological collections and material heritage from across the many First Nation Territories now called Ontario. It holds these collections as a public repository and in trust, seeking to work collaboratively in the care, access, decision making, and learning from this vital heritage record.
Sustainable Commuting
Western has undertaken several actions to promote more sustainable commuting.
Busing
- City Bus Pass: A London Transit Bus Pass is included in all Western undergraduate students’ tuition. Graduate students are also part of the universal bus pass program. The pass allows students to take a bus for free anywhere in the city.
Shuttles
- Late Night Exam Shuttle: The University Students’ Council (USC) offers a free shuttle service to get students safely home after exams.
- Mustang on Demand: The USC offers this service during the academic year to transport students late at night.
- USC Grocery Shuttle: Hitch a ride with the USC every Tuesday from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Our Grocery Shuttle will take you from campus to Food Basics grocery store and back.
Bicycles
- Secured Bike Areas: Two secure bicycle parking areas are available at no cost to Western students, staff, and faculty. These spaces are convenient, secure, weather-protected spaces, featuring solid steel lock bars for maximum security.
- Bike Lockers: Located throughout campus, these spacious lockers will provide safety and protection for your bicycle and bike gear.
- Bike Parking Map: This map shows the location of the 20 bike lockers, shelters, covered racks, and rooms available for bikes. It also highlights buildings with showers for those who really work up a sweat when commuting.
- Bike Routes to Campus: A map of preferred bike routes and tips for getting to campus from the surrounding area.
- Bike Paths: The Thames Valley Parkway recreational trail is a scenic route, running along the Thames River. The part running through campus is marked on this campus map.
- Bike Share Program: With funding from the Western Sustainable Impact Fund, this pilot program will encourage campus community members to cycle more.
Electric Vehicles
- Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Western has installed 76 EV charging stations located in thirteen parking lots in preferential locations. Only electric vehicles that are plugged into a charging station are permitted to park in spaces designated with an EV parking sign.
Community Engagement
- Western Active Transportation Society: A multidisciplinary group of faculty, staff, and students at Western University who are passionate about researching and promoting safe cycling and walking as a means of transportation.
- Annual Bike to Campus Day: This event focuses on spreading awareness and highlighting the benefits of active transportation. Connect with community and campus partners at the Bike Fair.
- Cycling Month at Western: Students, staff, and faculty track their commute. The five participants with the top kilometres travelled win prizes.
- Open Space Strategy: This planning document includes prioritizing pedestrian access and creating a complete bicycle network with comprehensive, bike-safe routes.
Over 93% of Western’s students use sustainable commuting options.
Housing for Employees 
Western University supports its employees in finding affordable housing through several initiatives:
- Western University pays a living wage to its employees, allowing them to account for local living costs in London, Ontario.
- Faculty Relations has assembled this useful Guide to Housing in London. It lists houses or condos available to staff and faculty for rent or purchase.
- The Housing portfolio provides access to affordable, quality accommodations to students, staff, and visitors.
- Off-Campus Housing Services supports students and staff with their search for affordable accommodations.
Local Authority Collaboration Regarding Planning and Development
Western’s Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion partnered with local authorities on a housing project led by Indwell to address planning and development issues. The project’s main focus is providing affordable housing solutions for local residents. Please see the final report below.
Performance Arts
Western University contributes to local arts in terms of public performances of university choirs, theatre groups, orchestras, etc. Annually there are more than 350 musical performances alone. The Don Wright Faculty of Music typically welcomes more than 20,000 members of the community each year for concerts, outreach programming, and special events.
- Western Events Calendar: Filter the calendar by ‘performance’ to see upcoming events.
- Fridays@12:30: All concerts are free and open to the public in von Kuster Hall or via livestream.
- Opera at Western: Presents a full operatic performance twice per year.
- Faculty and Guest Artist Concerts: We welcome guest artists and showcase faculty members in a mix of free and ticketed concerts that are frequently livestreamed.
- Ensembles and Performance Groups: Our award-winning choral and instrumental groups perform a range of repertoire from early music to jazz.
- Open Houses and Instrument Days: We welcome community members into our facilities to experience first-hand our exceptional people, resources, and instruction.
- Masterclasses and Residencies: Dozens of visiting artists, educators, composers, and scholars bring global artistry and perspective to our students and the public.
- Chamber Music Series: The recitals feature instrumental music performed by small ensembles of current music students from both undergraduate and graduate programs.
- Dance Showcase: A free public performance to showcase the accomplishments of students in the Dance Minor program.
- Special Events and Student Competitions: From concerts to music-making programs, guest artists enrich our students’ education and the London community.
- Summer Shakespeare at Western: The longest running outdoor performance of Shakespeare in Canada.
- Department of English Drama Production: Draws students from all faculties to perform, produce, and even compose as a team.
- McIntosh Gallery Exhibitions: Serving students, faculty, and staff of Western University, and the broader community of the City of London, programs and services actively promote innovative projects in the production, exhibition, interpretation, and collection of visual culture.
- London Community Artists: Artwork by members of London Community Artists is displayed at Western Research Park on an ongoing basis.
- artLAB: Media exhibitions accommodate projects and initiatives that have the potential to engage with the Western community, as well as local, regional, and international cultural workers.
Affordable Student Housing
Western provides affordable housing for students.
- Residence: Rated #1 for student living by Maclean’s University Rankings in the Medical/Doctoral category for seven years in a row, our 12 residences offer a wide range of facilities and support services, providing homes to over 6,200 undergraduate students from 66 countries.
- Services In Residence: Services include meal plans, front desk staff, laundry, internet, repairs, cleaning, garbage disposal, and mental health counselling.
- University Apartments: Our facilities are clean, convenient, comfortable, and affordable because we understand your needs not just as a tenant, but as a student.
- Platt’s Lane Estates: A community of 170 townhouses on a park-like setting of nearly 20 acres, it is a warm and diverse community to call home during your academic career at Western.
- Off-Campus Housing Services: The #1 source for students and staff to find off-campus housing, with over 5,000 listings annually.
- International & Exchange Students Housing Services: Contact us for personalized assistance with your housing search in London, Ontario if you aren’t in Canada yet.
- Financial Assistance: Western provides financial support through a variety of loans, grants, bursaries, and work-study programs to overcome financial barriers.
Pedestrian Access
Western prioritizes pedestrian access on campus:
- Campus Master Plan: Our principle on transportation calls for safe and efficient networks to support pedestrian, bicycle, and bus traffic.
- Open Space Strategy: Pedestrian routes are public spaces that contribute to social life and academic dialogue and create impressions before other facilities can be assessed.
- UC Hill Capital Project: Enhancements to UC Hill augment mobility across campus and prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety.
- Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Crosswalk signals are designed to provide safer passage at intersections for community members with visual impairment.
- Campus Pedestrian Walkway Tactile Plates: The bright red plates and yellow concrete ramps located at the edge of road crossings on campus provide cues for the visually impaired.
New Build Standards
Western builds all new buildings to sustainable standards.
- Sustainable Design Guidelines: These gudelines require all new building and major renovation projects to aim for LEED v4 Silver certification at minimum. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) energy modeling standards minimum energy performance, metering, and monitoring with a focus on reducing GHGs in building operations.
- Environment & Sustainability Policy: This policy lists the scope, principles, and objectives to build and renovate facilities in accordance with energy efficiency and sustainability principles.
- Capital Projects: Western has several capital projects underway at any given time. Our upcoming renovations will all need to meet the performance standards outlined in the Sustainable Design Guidelines.
Western currently has 13 LEED certified buildings. Our newest building, the Ronald D. Schmeichel Building for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, is our first net-zero energy building.
Brownfield Sites
Western University has a strong commitment to sustainable building practices and adheres to various standards and regulations to ensure environmentally responsible development. Below is an overview of the policies and practices that guide our building and development projects, particularly regarding building on sites that have previously been developed.
- Deep Energy Retrofit Program: DERP exists to renovate older buildings on campus to improve their energy efficiency and reduce emissions. On average DERP projects result in a 60%-80% reduction in emissions per building. Western aims to complete 1-2 DERP projects per year. Recent projects include Siebens-Drake Research Institute (completed 2024) and Western Student Recreation Centre (completed 2023).
- Sustainable Design Guidelines: Establish minimum performance criteria for buildings and sites, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve human health, and support thriving ecosystems. The guidelines are aligned with Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan and aim for at least LEED Silver certification for all new construction and major renovations.
- Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design: Western aims for LEED certification in building projects, ensuring that buildings are designed and constructed using strategies aimed at improving performance across key metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, and improved indoor environmental quality.
- Ontario Environment Assessment Process: Western adheres to this process which promotes responsible environmental decision-making. This process includes the preparation and review of environmental assessments to ensure that potential environmental effects are considered before any infrastructure project begins.
- Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks: Provides guidelines and regulations that Western University adheres to in its building projects. This includes ensuring that all developments comply with environmental protection standards and contribute to the conservation of Ontario’s natural resources.
- Completed Projects: Several capital projects are underway at any given time. Some recent examples include:
- Weldon Library Revitalization: Originally built in 1967, the library was transformed in 2024 to include a Learning Commons and increase study seats. The project received international recognition.
- Western Student Recreation Centre Gym addition: In 2025, a newly retrofitted gym opened for student access to adapt to an evolving and growing student body.
