[PDADC-L] Staff Announcement - Campus and Facilities Planning

PDAD&C#69, 2010-11

TO: PDAD&C

FROM: Scott Mabury, Vice-Provost, Academic Operations

DATE: April 14, 2011

RE: Staff Announcement - Campus and Facilities Planning

With great reticence I write to announce that Elizabeth Sisam, Assistant Vice-President Campus and Facilities Planning, will take early retirement following 31 years of exemplary service.

The first project Elizabeth undertook, upon arrival in the summer of 1980, was to develop the university space standards that have since directed how the University has planned capital projects and effectively managed space utilization.

In 1990 she became Director of Campus and Facilities Planning and Assistant Vice-President in 2005. Elizabeth wrote the first comprehensive planning report for the building that later became the Earth Sciences Centre. This report was so successful in interfacing the academic plan and space standards that every new building or facility since built, and requiring governance approval, has this kind of detailed report. Elizabeth, during her leadership of the 1994 St. George Campus Master Plan, spear-headed the novel concept of seeking city-approval for campus-wide building envelopes, rather than the earlier onerous and time-consuming review of density for each building site.

"The buildings, landscapes, and overall design of the University's three campuses will evolve over centuries. While people - faculty, staff and students - will always be our greatest strength, these physical features stand among our greatest and most enduring assets. In recent decades, no one has made a larger positive impact on these real assets than Elizabeth Sisam," said U of T President David Naylor.

Elizabeth cares deeply about this university and has invested her considerable skills and passion into helping make it a great place to work, learn and discover. It has been an honour and privilege to work with Elizabeth and I will miss her steady hand and wise council.

Elizabeth will continue in her current position until July 15, 2011 after which we expect to benefit from her wisdom and insight through the occasional auspices of her independent professional practice. There will be an opportunity in the near future to celebrate her myriad accomplishments and to thank her for the outstanding service and university-wide impact of her good work.