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{{Redirect6|MaRS|the planet|Mars||Mars (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|MaRS|the planet|Mars||Mars (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Non-profit
{{Infobox organization
| Non-profit_name = MaRS Discovery District
| name = MaRS Discovery District
| Non-profit_logo = [[Image:Metallic MaRS.jpg|100px]]
| logo = Metallic MaRS.jpg
| logo_size = 100px
| Non-profit_type = [[Charitable trust]]
| type = [[Charitable trust]]
| founded_date = May 31, 2000
| founded_date = May 31, 2000
| location = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]
| location = [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada
| origins =
| origins =
| key_people = [[Ilse Treurnicht]], [[chief executive officer|CEO]]
| key_people = [[Alison Nankivell]], [[chief executive officer|CEO]]
| focus = [[Technology transfer]], [[commercialization]]
| focus = [[Technology transfer]], [[commercialization]]
| method = [[Consultancy]], [[market research]], [[venture capital]]
| method = [[Consultancy]], [[market research]], [[venture capital]]
| revenue =
| revenue =
| num_volunteers =
| num_volunteers =
| owner =
| owner =
| Non-profit_slogan =
| Non-profit_slogan =
| homepage = [http://www.marsdd.com/ marsdd.com]
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.marsdd.com/}}
| dissolved =
| dissolved =
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}
'''MaRS Discovery District''' is a not-for-profit corporation founded in [[Toronto]] in 2000. Its stated goal is to commercialize publicly funded medical research with the help of local private enterprises and as such is a [[public-private partnership]].<ref name="MaRS FAQ">MaRS Discovery District FAQ. {{dead link|URL: [http://www.marsdd.com/portals/mars/faq/ http://www.marsdd.com/portals/mars/faq/]|date=October 2010}}. Accessed on: June 1, 2007.</ref>
{{Dead link|date=October 2010}}<ref name="How did MaRS get started">MaRS Discovery District. {{cite web|URL: [http://www.marsdd.com/aboutmars/story.html http://www.marsdd.com/aboutmars/story.html].|title=How did MaRS get started}} Accessed on: October 13, 2010.</ref>


'''MaRS Discovery District''' is a not-for-profit corporation founded in [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada in 2000. Its stated goal is to commercialize publicly funded medical research and other technologies with the help of local private enterprises and as such is a [[public-private partnership]].<ref name="How did MaRS get started">{{cite web|url=http://www.marsdd.com/aboutmars/story/ |title=How did MaRS get started |accessdate=29 December 2013}}</ref> As part of its mission MaRS says, "MaRS helps create successful global businesses from Canada's science, technology and social innovation."<ref>{{cite web|title=Our mission, our vision {{!}} MaRS|url=http://www.marsdd.com/aboutmars/mission/|accessdate=29 April 2013}}</ref> {{As of|2014}}, [[Startup company|startup companies]] emerging from MaRS had created more than 4,000 jobs, and in the period of 2011 to 2014 had raised over $750 million in [[capital investments]].<ref name=philipiddis2014>{{Cite news|url=http://www.genengnews.com/gen-articles/incubators-blossom-along-with-their-startups/5245/|title=Incubators Blossom along with Their Startups|last=Philipiddis|first=Alex|date=15 June 2014|work=[[Gen. Eng. Biotechnol. News|Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News]]|issue=12|volume=34|pages=7–8|access-date=2016-07-17}}</ref>
The name MaRS was originally drawn from a file name, and later attributed with the title “Medical and Related Sciences.” As MaRS also works in other fields such as [[Information and Communications Technology]], [[Engineering]], and [[Social Innovation]], it has since abandoned this association.<ref name="How did MaRS get started"/>

The name MaRS was originally drawn from a file name, and later attributed with the title "Medical and Related Sciences". It has since abandoned this association<ref name="How did MaRS get started"/> as it also works in other fields such as [[information and communications technology]], [[engineering]], and [[social innovation]].

MaRS Discovery District is a member organization of the Ontario Network of Engineers.<ref name=":1" />


== Facilities ==
== Facilities ==
[[Image:MaRSfromCollege.jpg|250 px|thumb|left|The MaRS Centre, seen from the northeast corner of College Street and University Avenue]]
[[Image:MaRSfromCollege.jpg|250 px|thumb|The MaRS Centre, seen from the northeast corner of College Street and University Avenue]]
[[Image:MaRSPhase2Construction.JPG|250 px|thumb|Construction of MaRS Phase II in August 2008]]
It is located on the corner of [[College Street (Toronto)|College Street]] and [[University Avenue (Toronto)|University Avenue]] in the city of [[Toronto]]’s [[Discovery District]], adjacent to the [[University of Toronto]] and its affiliated research hospitals at the [[University Health Network]].
[[Image:MaRSPhase2Construction3.JPG|250 px|thumb|The empty construction of MaRS Phase II in July 2009]]
[[Image:MaRSPhase2-3.jpg|250 px|thumb|Completed MaRS Phase 2 in 2016]]
[[File:AirbnbToronto2.jpg|thumb|Airbnb office in the MaRS Centre]]
It is located on the corner of [[College Street (Toronto)|College Street]] and [[University Avenue (Toronto)|University Avenue]] in the city of Toronto's [[Discovery District]], adjacent to the [[University of Toronto]] and its affiliated research hospitals at the [[University Health Network]].


The MaRS development consists of two phases.
The MaRS development consists of two phases.


=== Phase I ===
=== Phase 1 ===
MaRS Discovery District Phase I includes:
MaRS Discovery District Phase 1 was designed by Adamson Associates Architects and includes:
* The Heritage Building (formerly a wing of the [[Toronto General Hospital]]),

* The Heritage Building (formerly a wing of the [[Toronto General Hospital]]),
* The Atrium
* The Atrium
* The South Tower
* The South Tower
* The Toronto Medical Discovery Tower
* The Toronto Medical Discovery Tower


==== The Heritage Building ====
'''The Heritage Building'''<br>Inside the Heritage Building's four-storey brick façade (preserved) are tenant spaces occupied by professional services, industry associations, pharmaceutical companies and offices of Canadian universities and the [[Province of Ontario]]. In 2006, the MaRS Centre received the Heritage Toronto Award of Excellence for Architectural Conservation and Craftsmanship.
Inside the Heritage Building's four-storey brick façade (preserved) are tenant spaces occupied by professional services, industry associations, pharmaceutical companies and offices of Canadian universities and the [[Government of Ontario]]. In 2006, the MaRS Centre received the Heritage Toronto Award of Excellence for Architectural Conservation and Craftsmanship. The building was designed by [[Pearson and Darling]] and opened in 1911. The Heritage building houses a [[Biosafety level 3 laboratory]].<ref name="kbsl3">{{cite news |title=Health Lab at MaRS Discovers the Benefits of Kenall's IP-rated Containment Room Lighting |url=https://kenall.com/Kenall-Files/Product-Files/Literature/MaRS-Health-Lab_casestudy.pdf |publisher=Kenall Mfg.Co |date=2019}}</ref>


==== Atrium ====
'''The Atrium'''<br>The MaRS atrium is a glass-roofed public thoroughfare that provides walkway access to Heritage Building tenants and retail vendors, as well as access to the South Tower and Medical Discovery Tower. Its bottom level features a sub-dividable conference area that hosts public and private events. MaRS encourages events from across Toronto's arts, culture and broader urban community. The Atrium's lower level also features media centre, videoconferening rooms and a public food court.
The MaRS atrium is a glass-roofed public thoroughfare that provides walkway access to Heritage Building tenants and retail vendors, as well as access to the South and Medical Discovery Towers. Its bottom level features a sub-dividable conference area that hosts public and private events. The Atrium's lower level also features a media centre, video conferencing rooms and a public food court.


==== South Tower ====
'''The South Tower'''<br>This 11-storey structure houses incubator programs and shared laboratory and research facilities. The {{convert|200000|sqft|m2|adj=on}}, wet-lab-capable building spans eight floors in the MaRS Centre. The tower boasts advanced mechanical and electrical systems, floors with enhanced load bearing capabilities and {{convert|15|ft|m|adj=on}} slab-to-slab clearances.
This eight-storey structure houses incubator programs and shared laboratory and research facilities. The {{convert|200000|sqft|m2|adj=on}}, [[wet lab]]-capable building spans eight floors in the MaRS Centre. The tower boasts advanced mechanical and electrical systems, floors with enhanced load bearing capabilities and {{convert|15|ft|m|adj=on}} slab-to-slab clearances.


Occupying the second and third floors of the South Tower -- directly above the MaRS corporate offices, is the MaRS Incubator – a dedicated space that houses offices and laboratories for approximately two dozen life science and technology firms.
Occupying the second and third floors of the South Tower – directly above the MaRS corporate offices, is the MaRS Incubator – a dedicated space that houses offices and laboratories for approximately two dozen life science and technology firms.


==== Toronto Medical Discovery Tower ====
'''Toronto Medical Discovery Tower'''<br>With {{convert|400000|sqft|m2}} of state-of-the-art wet labs, the 15-storey Toronto Medical Discovery Tower accommodates leading-edge scientific equipment and houses the basic research activities of two of Canada's premier research hospitals: the University Health Network and the Hospital for Sick Children.
With {{convert|400000|sqft|m2}} of wet labs, the 15-storey Toronto Medical Discovery Tower accommodates scientific equipment and houses the basic research activities of one of Canada's research hospitals, the University Health Network.


Situated on the corner of College and Elizabeth Street, the building was designed with typical research and development lab floors configured with a side core arrangement and sheathed in metal and glass. The tower portions rest on a three-storey limestone podium that aligns with the heights of the adjoining College Wing and the formal landscape forecourt that extends the full block.
Situated on the corner of College and Elizabeth Street, the building was designed with typical research and development lab floors configured with a side core arrangement and sheathed in metal and glass. The tower portions rest on a three-storey limestone podium that aligns with the heights of the adjoining College Wing and the formal landscape forecourt that extends the full block.


The shell and core of the TMDT is designed to accommodate a full lab program based on 80% wet lab and 20% dry lab. The lab floors have been configured to maximize future flexibility. The mechanical and electrical rooms, power and communication distribution systems, general and special exhaust risers, floor drains and service zones, have been established to allow for fit-out by future tenants.
The shell and core of the TMDT is designed to accommodate a full lab program based on 80 percent wet lab and 20 percent [[dry lab]]. The lab floors have been configured to maximize future flexibility. The mechanical and electrical rooms, power and communication distribution systems, general and special exhaust risers, floor drains and service zones, have been established to allow for fit-out by future tenants.


Phase I began operations in 2005.<ref name="How did MaRS get started"/>
Phase 1 began operations in 2005.<ref name="How did MaRS get started"/>


=== Phase II ===
=== West Tower ===
Phase II, designed by Bregman + Hamann Architects, will constitute a {{convert|800000|sqft|m2|sing=on}} addition to the MaRS centre in the form of a 20-story tower on the complex’s west wing. Construction began in late 2007, and was scheduled to be completed in spring 2010.<ref>[http://www.marsdd.com/News/Press-Releases/2007/Alexandria-20070626.html MaRS Selects Alexandria Real Estate Equities to Expand the MaRS Centre in the Discovery District of Toronto.]. Accessed on: June 26, 2007.</ref> In November 2008, Phase II construction was put on hold due to the [[Late 2000s recession|economic downturn]].<ref>[http://www.financialpost.com/news/story.html?id=970255 Toronto's MaRS project a step too far. By Garry Marr, Financial Post Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2008]</ref> [http://www.marsdd.com/news-insights/newsreleases/mars-centre-phase-2-set-for-completion-in-fall-2013-2/ Construction resumed] in July 2011, with a target completion date of Fall 2013.
West Tower (formerly known as Phase 2), designed by [[B+H Architects|Bregman + Hamann Architects]], constitutes a {{convert|780000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} addition to the MaRS centre in the form of a 20-story tower on the complex's west wing. The tower was developed by [[Alexandria Real Estate Equities]].<ref name=":0" /> Construction began in late 2007, and was scheduled to be completed in spring 2010.<ref>[http://www.marsdd.com/News/Press-Releases/2007/Alexandria-20070626.html MaRS Selects Alexandria Real Estate Equities to Expand the MaRS Centre in the Discovery District of Toronto] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705022315/http://www.marsdd.com/News/Press-Releases/2007/Alexandria-20070626.html |date=2008-07-05 }}. Accessed on: June 26, 2007.</ref> In November 2008, Phase 2 construction was put on hold due to the [[Late 2000s recession|economic downturn]].<ref>[http://www.financialpost.com/news/story.html?id=970255 Toronto's MaRS project a step too far. By Garry Marr, Financial Post Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506053832/http://www.financialpost.com/news/story.html?id=970255 |date=May 6, 2009 }}</ref> [http://www.marsdd.com/news-insights/newsreleases/mars-centre-phase-2-set-for-completion-in-fall-2013-2/ Construction resumed] in July 2011, with a target completion date of Fall 2013.


In 2011, construction of Phase 2 restarted. Phase 2 construction was expected to be completed in September 2013.<ref>[http://www.marsdd.com/newsreleases/mars-centre-phase-2-set-for-completion-in-fall-2013-2/ MaRS Centre Phase 2 Set for Completion in Fall 2013]</ref> Phase 2 of the project was facing criticism because the [[Ontario Government|Government of Ontario]] provided a [[bailout]] for the organization which is facing difficulty leasing the floors. The [[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party]] was calling for a full accounting of MaRS Phase 2.<ref>{{cite web|author=Alex Bouitilier|title=Ontario Tories call for clarity on MaRS costs|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/05/30/ontario_tories_call_for_clarity_on_mars_costs.html|work=[[Toronto Star]]|publisher=TorStar Media|accessdate=9 December 2014}}</ref> By November 2016, 93% of the building had been leased, with the rest in negotiation.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|author=Shelley White|title=The story of the West Tower|url=https://magazine.marsdd.com/the-story-of-the-west-tower-3e130b165c4e#|work=[[Toronto Star]]|publisher=MaRS Discovery District|accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>
==Criticism==
[[Image:MaRSAtrium.jpg|200 px|thumb|Inside the MaRS Centre atrium.]]


In 2016, [[IBM]] announced plans to join the finTech hub at MaRS. The hub has financial services companies, including [[CIBC]], [[Manulife]] and [[Moneris]].<ref>[http://business.financialpost.com/fp-tech-desk/ibm-to-be-first-tech-tenant-in-torontos-mars-fintech-hub-will-focus-on-cognitive-technologies "IBM to be first technology tenant in Toronto's MaRS discovery district's fintech hub"]. ''Financial Post'', [[Alexandra Posadzki]], August 30, 2016</ref>
In April 2010, criticism of the $471,874 salary collected by MaRS CEO Ilse Treurnicht in 2008 was raised<ref>Boutin, Greg. “Troubling Facts about MaRS Discovery District.” URL: [http://www.growthtimes.com/2010/04/troubling-facts-about-mars-discovery-district-part-1-of-4/ http://www.growthtimes.com/2010/04/troubling-facts-about-mars-discovery-district-part-1-of-4/]. Accessed on: September 27, 2010.</ref>It also criticized government-led funding, lack of accountability and rigor in measuring results, claims of public-private partnerships and the absence of visible-minorities among MaRS's team of advisors.


== Supporters ==
On Aug. 27, 2010, the National Post relayed some of these criticisms<ref>McDowell, Adam. “Discovering life at MaRS: Toronto’s premier innovation district" in "National Post" August 27, 2010. URL: [http://www.nationalpost.com/Discovering+life+MaRS+Toronto+premier+innovation+district/3452631/story.html http://www.nationalpost.com/Discovering+life+MaRS+Toronto+premier+innovation+district/3452631/story.html]. Accessed on: September 27, 2010.</ref>
MaRS is supported, in part, by professional service organizations that offer their expertise at no cost through education and training, and advisory hours.


=== Funding ===
Renewed criticism was published in 2011, pointing in particular to the $100,000 increase in salary of MaRS CEO, her $534,000 salary in 2010, and questioning the public and private funding of the phase 2 expansion.<ref>Boutin, Greg. “CEO of MaRS got 22% raise (one month before Ontario wage freeze?), made $533K in 2010" in "Growth Times" August 3, 2011. URL: [http://www.growthtimes.com/2011/08/ceo-of-mars-got-22-raise-one-month-before-ontario-wage-freeze-made-533k-in-2010/ http://www.growthtimes.com/2011/08/ceo-of-mars-got-22-raise-one-month-before-ontario-wage-freeze-made-533k-in-2010/]. Accessed on: August 5, 2011.</ref>. The Toronto Sun published articles on the topic as well, questioning the high compensation levels at the institution. <ref>Jenkins, Jonathan. “Salaries increase at MaRS Discovery District" in "The Toronto Sun" August 2, 2011. URL: [http://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/02/salaries-increase-at-mars-discovery-district http://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/02/salaries-increase-at-mars-discovery-district]. Accessed on: August 5, 2011.</ref>
Current and recent individual and organizational funders include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Our Supporters |url=https://www.marsdd.com/supporters/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230112082755/https://www.marsdd.com/supporters/ |archive-date=2023-01-12 |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=MaRS Discovery District |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MaRS 2021 Annual Report |url=https://marsdd-public-files.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/16044948/MaRS-Donor-Report-FY2022.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122160648/https://marsdd-public-files.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/16044948/MaRS-Donor-Report-FY2022.pdf |archive-date=2023-01-22 |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=MaRS Discovery District}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date= |title=Meet Our Supporters |url=https://www.marsdd.com/supporters/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406033517/https://www.marsdd.com/supporters/ |archive-date=2019-04-06 |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=MaRS Discovery District}}</ref>


{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
== Initiatives and affiliations ==
* [[Allan Slaight]]
* [http://www.torontodiscoverydistrict.ca/ The Toronto Discovery District]
* [[Amgen]]
* [http://www.ccsip.org/ California-Canada Strategic Innovation Partnership]
* [[Arthur Labatt]]
* [http://www.sigeneration.ca/ Social Innovation Generation (SiG)]
* [[AstraZeneca]]
* [http://remarkk.com/2007/02/18/creative-convergence-centres-hubs-within-the-cluster/ Creative Convergence Centres Project]
* [[Avie Bennett]]
* [http://www.marsdd.com/premiersummit/ Premier’s Summit Awards]
* [[Baxter International|Baxter]]
* [http://www.stemcellnetwork.ca/ Canadian Stem Cell Network]
* [[Baycrest Health Sciences]]
* [http://www.marslanding.ca/ MaRS Landing]
* [[Brock University|Brock University Faculty of Education]]
* [http://www.stockholmsciencecity.com/en/ Stockholm Science City]
* [[Bullfrog Power]]
* [http://www.netchangeweek.ca/ Net Change Week]
* [[Canada Health Infoway]]
* Canadian Electricity Association
* [[Canadian Cancer Society]]
* [[Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce]]
* [[Cancer Care Ontario]]
* [[Capgemini]]
* [[Cisco]]
* [[City of Toronto]]
* [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands)|Consulate General of the Netherlands in Toronto]]
* [[The Co-operators]]
* [[Deloitte]]
* [[Edelman (firm)|Edelman]]
* [[Eli Lilly and Company]]
* [[Employment and Social Development Canada]]
* [[Federation of Canadian Municipalities]]
* [[FleishmanHillard]]
* [[Gerald Heffernan]]
* [[GlaxoSmithKline]]
* [[Government of Canada]]
* [[Government of Ontario]]
* [[Gowling WLG]]
* [[Hamilton Community Foundation]]
* [[HSBC]]
* [[Janssen Pharmaceuticals|Janssen]]
* [[Joseph Rotman]]
* [[KPMG]]
* [[McConnell Foundation]]
* [[Meridian Credit Union]]
* [[Microsoft]]
* [[Miller Thomson]]
* [[MNP LLP]]
* Morrisette Institute for Entrepreneurship at the [[University of Western Ontario]]
* [[Nordion]]
* [[Norton Rose Fulbright]]
* [[Novartis]]
* [[NPS Pharmaceuticals]]
* [[Ontario Genomics]]
* [[Pearson plc|Pearson]]
* [[Peter Munk]]
* [[Roche]]
* [[Rockefeller Foundation]]
* [[Royal Bank of Canada]]
* [[Siemens]]
* [[St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto)|St. Michael's Hospital]]
* [[Suncor Energy]]
* [[Suncor Energy|Suncor Energy Foundation]]
* [[TMX Group]]
* [[Toronto Rehabilitation Institute]]
* [[Torys]]
* [[University of Toronto]]
* [[Vancity]]
* [[Versant Ventures]]
}}

== Criticism ==
[[Image:MaRSAtrium.jpg|200 px|thumb|Inside the MaRS Centre atrium]]

In April 2010, criticism of the $471,874 salary collected by MaRS CEO Ilse Treurnicht in 2008 was raised.<ref>{{cite news|author=Greg Boutin |title=Troubling Facts about MaRS Discovery District |url=http://www.growthtimes.com/2010/04/troubling-facts-about-mars-discovery-district-part-1-of-4/ |work=Growth Times |date=April 2010 |accessdate=September 27, 2010|url-access=subscription }}</ref> It also criticized Liberal government-led funding, lack of accountability and rigor in measuring results, claims of public–private partnerships and the absence of visible minorities among MaRS's team of advisors.

On August 27, 2010, the ''[[National Post]]'' relayed some of these criticisms<ref>{{cite news|author=Adam McDowell |title=Discovering life at MaRS: Toronto's premier innovation district |work=[[National Post]]|date=August 27, 2010 |url=https://nationalpost.com/Discovering+life+MaRS+Toronto+premier+innovation+district/3452631/story.html |accessdate=September 27, 2010}}</ref>

Renewed criticism was published in 2011, pointing in particular to the $100,000 increase in Treurnicht's salary, her $534,000 salary in 2010, and questioning the public and private funding of the Phase II expansion.<ref>{{cite news|author=Greg Boutin |title=CEO of MaRS got 22% raise (one month before Ontario wage freeze?), made $533K in 2010 |work=Growth Times |date=August 3, 2011|url=http://www.growthtimes.com/2011/08/ceo-of-mars-got-22-raise-one-month-before-ontario-wage-freeze-made-533k-in-2010|accessdate=August 5, 2011|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The ''[[Toronto Sun]]'' published articles on the topic as well, questioning the high compensation levels at the charitable trust institution.

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons category|MaRS Discovery District}}
{{Commons category|MaRS Discovery District}}
* [http://www.marsdd.com The MaRS website]
* [http://www.marsdd.com/entrepreneurs-toolkit/ MaRS Entrepreneurs Toolkit]
* [http://www.marsdd.com/news-insights/newsreleases/mars-centre-phase-2-set-for-completion-in-fall-2013-2/ Press Release for resumption of MaRS 'Phase 2' Expansion ]
* [http://www.marsdd.com/news-insights/newsreleases/mars-centre-phase-2-set-for-completion-in-fall-2013-2/ Press Release for resumption of MaRS 'Phase 2' Expansion ]


{{Authority control}}
== References ==
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<references/>


{{DEFAULTSORT:MaRS Discovery District}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mars Discovery District}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Toronto]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Toronto]]
[[Category:Health in Canada]]
[[Category:Science parks in Canada]]
[[Category:Science parks]]
[[Category:High-technology business districts in Canada]]
[[Category:High-technology business districts]]
[[Category:Darling and Pearson buildings]]
[[Category:Pearson and Darling buildings]]
[[Category:Intelligent Community Forum]]
[[Category:BSL3 laboratories in Canada]]

[[pt:MaRS Discovery District]]

Latest revision as of 20:33, 12 September 2024

"MaRS" redirects here. For the planet, see Mars. For other uses, see Mars (disambiguation).
MaRS Discovery District
FoundedMay 31, 2000
TypeCharitable trust
FocusTechnology transfer, commercialization
Location
MethodConsultancy, market research, venture capital
Key people
Alison Nankivell, CEO
Websitewww.marsdd.com

MaRS Discovery District is a not-for-profit corporation founded in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 2000. Its stated goal is to commercialize publicly funded medical research and other technologies with the help of local private enterprises and as such is a public-private partnership.[1] As part of its mission MaRS says, "MaRS helps create successful global businesses from Canada's science, technology and social innovation."[2] As of 2014, startup companies emerging from MaRS had created more than 4,000 jobs, and in the period of 2011 to 2014 had raised over $750 million in capital investments.[3]

The name MaRS was originally drawn from a file name, and later attributed with the title "Medical and Related Sciences". It has since abandoned this association[1] as it also works in other fields such as information and communications technology, engineering, and social innovation.

MaRS Discovery District is a member organization of the Ontario Network of Engineers.[4]

Facilities

[edit]
The MaRS Centre, seen from the northeast corner of College Street and University Avenue
Construction of MaRS Phase II in August 2008
The empty construction of MaRS Phase II in July 2009
Completed MaRS Phase 2 in 2016
Airbnb office in the MaRS Centre

It is located on the corner of College Street and University Avenue in the city of Toronto's Discovery District, adjacent to the University of Toronto and its affiliated research hospitals at the University Health Network.

The MaRS development consists of two phases.

Phase 1

[edit]

MaRS Discovery District Phase 1 was designed by Adamson Associates Architects and includes:

  • The Heritage Building (formerly a wing of the Toronto General Hospital),
  • The Atrium
  • The South Tower
  • The Toronto Medical Discovery Tower

The Heritage Building

[edit]

Inside the Heritage Building's four-storey brick façade (preserved) are tenant spaces occupied by professional services, industry associations, pharmaceutical companies and offices of Canadian universities and the Government of Ontario. In 2006, the MaRS Centre received the Heritage Toronto Award of Excellence for Architectural Conservation and Craftsmanship. The building was designed by Pearson and Darling and opened in 1911. The Heritage building houses a Biosafety level 3 laboratory.[5]

Atrium

[edit]

The MaRS atrium is a glass-roofed public thoroughfare that provides walkway access to Heritage Building tenants and retail vendors, as well as access to the South and Medical Discovery Towers. Its bottom level features a sub-dividable conference area that hosts public and private events. The Atrium's lower level also features a media centre, video conferencing rooms and a public food court.

South Tower

[edit]

This eight-storey structure houses incubator programs and shared laboratory and research facilities. The 200,000-square-foot (19,000 m2), wet lab-capable building spans eight floors in the MaRS Centre. The tower boasts advanced mechanical and electrical systems, floors with enhanced load bearing capabilities and 15-foot (4.6 m) slab-to-slab clearances.

Occupying the second and third floors of the South Tower – directly above the MaRS corporate offices, is the MaRS Incubator – a dedicated space that houses offices and laboratories for approximately two dozen life science and technology firms.

Toronto Medical Discovery Tower

[edit]

With 400,000 square feet (37,000 m2) of wet labs, the 15-storey Toronto Medical Discovery Tower accommodates scientific equipment and houses the basic research activities of one of Canada's research hospitals, the University Health Network.

Situated on the corner of College and Elizabeth Street, the building was designed with typical research and development lab floors configured with a side core arrangement and sheathed in metal and glass. The tower portions rest on a three-storey limestone podium that aligns with the heights of the adjoining College Wing and the formal landscape forecourt that extends the full block.

The shell and core of the TMDT is designed to accommodate a full lab program based on 80 percent wet lab and 20 percent dry lab. The lab floors have been configured to maximize future flexibility. The mechanical and electrical rooms, power and communication distribution systems, general and special exhaust risers, floor drains and service zones, have been established to allow for fit-out by future tenants.

Phase 1 began operations in 2005.[1]

West Tower

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West Tower (formerly known as Phase 2), designed by Bregman + Hamann Architects, constitutes a 780,000-square-foot (72,000 m2) addition to the MaRS centre in the form of a 20-story tower on the complex's west wing. The tower was developed by Alexandria Real Estate Equities.[6] Construction began in late 2007, and was scheduled to be completed in spring 2010.[7] In November 2008, Phase 2 construction was put on hold due to the economic downturn.[8] Construction resumed in July 2011, with a target completion date of Fall 2013.

In 2011, construction of Phase 2 restarted. Phase 2 construction was expected to be completed in September 2013.[9] Phase 2 of the project was facing criticism because the Government of Ontario provided a bailout for the organization which is facing difficulty leasing the floors. The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party was calling for a full accounting of MaRS Phase 2.[10] By November 2016, 93% of the building had been leased, with the rest in negotiation.[6]

In 2016, IBM announced plans to join the finTech hub at MaRS. The hub has financial services companies, including CIBC, Manulife and Moneris.[11]

Supporters

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MaRS is supported, in part, by professional service organizations that offer their expertise at no cost through education and training, and advisory hours.

Funding

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Current and recent individual and organizational funders include:[12][13][4]

Criticism

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Inside the MaRS Centre atrium

In April 2010, criticism of the $471,874 salary collected by MaRS CEO Ilse Treurnicht in 2008 was raised.[14] It also criticized Liberal government-led funding, lack of accountability and rigor in measuring results, claims of public–private partnerships and the absence of visible minorities among MaRS's team of advisors.

On August 27, 2010, the National Post relayed some of these criticisms[15]

Renewed criticism was published in 2011, pointing in particular to the $100,000 increase in Treurnicht's salary, her $534,000 salary in 2010, and questioning the public and private funding of the Phase II expansion.[16] The Toronto Sun published articles on the topic as well, questioning the high compensation levels at the charitable trust institution.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "How did MaRS get started". Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Our mission, our vision | MaRS". Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  3. ^ Philipiddis, Alex (15 June 2014). "Incubators Blossom along with Their Startups". Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News. Vol. 34, no. 12. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
  4. ^ a b "Meet Our Supporters". MaRS Discovery District. Archived from the original on 2019-04-06. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  5. ^ "Health Lab at MaRS Discovers the Benefits of Kenall's IP-rated Containment Room Lighting" (PDF). Kenall Mfg.Co. 2019.
  6. ^ a b Shelley White. "The story of the West Tower". Toronto Star. MaRS Discovery District. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  7. ^ MaRS Selects Alexandria Real Estate Equities to Expand the MaRS Centre in the Discovery District of Toronto Archived 2008-07-05 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed on: June 26, 2007.
  8. ^ Toronto's MaRS project a step too far. By Garry Marr, Financial Post Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 Archived May 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ MaRS Centre Phase 2 Set for Completion in Fall 2013
  10. ^ Alex Bouitilier. "Ontario Tories call for clarity on MaRS costs". Toronto Star. TorStar Media. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  11. ^ "IBM to be first technology tenant in Toronto's MaRS discovery district's fintech hub". Financial Post, Alexandra Posadzki, August 30, 2016
  12. ^ "Meet Our Supporters". MaRS Discovery District. Archived from the original on 2023-01-12. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  13. ^ "MaRS 2021 Annual Report" (PDF). MaRS Discovery District. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  14. ^ Greg Boutin (April 2010). "Troubling Facts about MaRS Discovery District". Growth Times. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  15. ^ Adam McDowell (August 27, 2010). "Discovering life at MaRS: Toronto's premier innovation district". National Post. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  16. ^ Greg Boutin (August 3, 2011). "CEO of MaRS got 22% raise (one month before Ontario wage freeze?), made $533K in 2010". Growth Times. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
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