Directions

The University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science is located at

  • 200 Columbia St. W., Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Note: The Waterloo location of the Waterloo Eye Institute, the School's flagship optometry clinic open to the public, has moved to an interim location at 419 Phillip Street, Unit C, Waterloo, as of October 21, 2024, due to the major renovation and expansion of the original location of our clinic. Most classes, research and administration will remain at 200 Columbia St. W., as will the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE). The downtown Kitchener location of our clinic continues its normal operations.

Maps

We are located on the north campus just opposite the Columbia Street/Hagey Boulevard entrance and next to the Columbia Ice Fields.

View the interactive campus map.

Google maps: University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science

Modes of travel

You can easily reach the University of Waterloo by

Car
  • From Highway 401
  • Take exit 278 (from Toronto) or exit 278B (from London) to Highway 8 West Kitchener
  • Exit at Highway 85 to Waterloo
  • Exit at University Avenue West (immediately after University Avenue East exit)
  • Follow University Avenue West and turn right at Phillip Street
  • Turn left at Columbia Street West
  • The School is located just past the railway tracks on the right side of Columbia Street

Train

GO Transit or Via Rail trains take you to Kitchener, and then take inner-city bus to University of Waterloo.

Bus

From Toronto, GO Transit to University of Waterloo or Greyhound bus to Waterloo University (or Kitchener then Inner-city bus).

From London or Hamilton, Coach Canada bus to Waterloo University (or Kitchener then inner-city bus).

Plane

Inner-city bus

In Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge, you can use the Grand River Transit to reach campus. The number 7D or 7E buses travel straight to campus, stops #1094 or #2520. The iXpress stops at the intersection of the Columbia Street and Hagey Boulevard, which is directly beside the School.

Taxi

Parking

If you're coming to the School or CORE during construction on the Waterloo Eye Institute, we recommend you park in Lot X, off Hagey Boulevard, just behind Columbia Street. Parking is $7.25 for the day (effective May 1, 2025) and must be paid for by using the AMP mobile pay app. You can also park in Lot OV, off Columbia Street, between the rail tracks and the University of Waterloo Columbia Street entrance, which costs the same and is paid by credit card on exit.  

Parking is not regulated by the School. For questions or concerns, please contact Sustainable Transportation (formerly Parking Services) at 519-888-4567 ext. 33100 or strnsprt@uwaterloo.ca.

Optometry Clinics

For directions, hours and parking information at our Waterloo Eye Institute optometry clinics, see: