Durham College outlines TeachingCity student work on downtown Oshawa transit corridor, trail wayfinding and fire training app

Durham College says its students have worked with the City of Oshawa on downtown transit-corridor land-use concepts, new wayfinding artwork for the Joseph Kolodzie Bike Trail, and a mixed-reality training application being developed with Oshawa Fire Services. The college described the projects in an Oct. 1, 2026, web post about its involvement in the city’s TeachingCity initiative.

The projects touch on several public-facing areas in Oshawa, including planning ideas for properties along a future transit corridor, signage intended to help people navigate a bike trail, and training tools and placements linked to Oshawa Fire Services.

Durham College said students in its Architectural Technology program were asked to reimagine several properties along Oshawa’s designated future transit corridor in downtown Oshawa. The college said the students worked with the City of Oshawa Planning Services branch, reviewing development policies and regulations, and weighing market demand and costs.

Durham College said students presented their proposals to city staff during an open house at Oshawa City Hall. The college said the proposals emphasized affordable housing, pedestrian design and transit.

In the same post, Durham College said it is developing a mixed-reality training and assessment application connected to Oshawa Fire Services. The college said three graduates of its Game – Art program will be hired to help develop the application through the school’s Mixed Reality Capture Studio.

According to the college, the application is intended to simulate the assessment of a building during a fire call. The college said candidates preparing for firefighter leadership roles will practise identifying hazards and determining appropriate response strategies in a controlled environment.

Durham College also said Fine Arts – Advanced students contributed artwork for wayfinding signage along the Joseph Kolodzie Bike Trail in Oshawa. The college said six student works were selected and installed.

At Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park, Durham College said a student project contributed to the park’s digital wayfinding experience. The college said the digital features include information about the park’s history and amenities, 360-degree viewing and an auditory tour guide.

Durham College also said some students in its 9-1-1 Emergency and Call Centre Communications program participate in Oshawa Fire Services’ Fire 911 Communications placements. The college said the placements provide exposure to emergency telecommunications and the work of communications professionals.

The college did not indicate whether the City of Oshawa will adopt any of the transit-corridor proposals or when decisions might be made.