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During orientation in my freshman year, we were told (off the record, by some seniors) the steam tunnels have been permanently closed for years, despite the hug

During orientation in my freshman year, we were told (off the record, by some seniors) the steam tunnels have been permanently closed for years, despite the huge convenience they used to provide by connecting far-away buildings underground in the winter when it gets extremely cold, because an alarming number of rapes/sexual assaults had happened down there. Never really verified whether that was true. I wonder how this photographer was able to get down there.

unicornmama 4y ago
Some students were interested in lock picking.
mrshadowgoose 4y ago
This is a common urban legend present at any university with these types of utility tunnels. Due to various physical hazards, these tunnels are just not the safest to be in as an untrained individual, and were never open to the public.
mabbo 4y ago
They should look at Carleton University in Ottawa as an example. Big, wide, brightly lit tunnels with cameras on every square inch. No more dangerous than any other part of campus. Entirely open to everyone and often the fastest way to get around.
Waterluvian 4y ago
UW has a ton of completely open tunnels all over campus without needing the steam tunnels. It’s been a decade but if I recall, you could go from Modern Languages to Environment 1-3 to Arts Lecture to Tatham to SCH or DWE and then to all the other engineering buildings. You could visit most of the campus without going outside. Very nice for a Canadian winter. :)
Wontron 4y ago
I can't guarantee that they were never open to the public, but I can say that the waterloo steam tunnels were definitely not designed to be accessible. The tunnel from V1 to main campus is narrow and has a ladder about halfway. Also the steam pipes and many building controls seem to be out in the open and unprotected. I'm not sure how this photographer got down, but about a decade ago there was a way to sneak in through an access panel.

unicornmama 4y ago

Some students were interested in lock picking.

mrshadowgoose 4y ago

This is a common urban legend present at any university with these types of utility tunnels. Due to various physical hazards, these tunnels are just not the safest to be in as an untrained individual, and were never open to the public.

mabbo 4y ago

They should look at Carleton University in Ottawa as an example. Big, wide, brightly lit tunnels with cameras on every square inch. No more dangerous than any other part of campus. Entirely open to everyone and often the fastest way to get around.

Waterluvian 4y ago

UW has a ton of completely open tunnels all over campus without needing the steam tunnels. It’s been a decade but if I recall, you could go from Modern Languages to Environment 1-3 to Arts Lecture to Tatham to SCH or DWE and then to all the other engineering buildings. You could visit most of the campus without going outside. Very nice for a Canadian winter. :)

Wontron 4y ago

I can't guarantee that they were never open to the public, but I can say that the waterloo steam tunnels were definitely not designed to be accessible. The tunnel from V1 to main campus is narrow and has a ladder about halfway. Also the steam pipes and many building controls seem to be out in the open and unprotected. I'm not sure how this photographer got down, but about a decade ago there was a way to sneak in through an access panel.