Get to know F&S: Sofia Borrelli

Junior Property Manager Sofia Borrelli never shies away from a challenge.

Growing up near the St. George campus, Sofia Borrelli fell in love with the university’s many unique buildings at a young age.  

Borrelli then attended the University of Toronto as an undergraduate. One of her favourite buildings as a student was University College. “I love the beautiful stained-glass windows, especially when the sunlight hits them just right,” she says. 

After graduating with a double major in environmental and equity studies, Borrelli began working in commercial real estate. “It gave me insight into the entire operation of a building and the hard-working people required to run it,” she recalls. In 2021, Borrelli found her way back to U of T, joining Facilities & Services.

Now, as a junior property manager, she is responsible for the buildings she once loved as a student, working closely with her colleagues across the F&S property management team. 

Borrelli currently oversees the operations of six buildings including Sussex Court, North Borden Building, and South Borden Building, ensuring that they are running smoothly.  

When someone submits a request for a specific service provided by F&S, Borrelli is the first point of contact, liaising with the client and the relevant department responsible for the order. She meets with clients regularly, delivers client projects and performs building inspections once a month, checking for any possible improvements and issues.  

Once service requests and building inspections are squared away, Borrelli takes the time to check in with her colleagues.  

“Not everyone realizes the amount of teamwork involved in maintaining a building,” she says. “Even just a small improvement requires input from many groups—whether they be consultants, contractors, or clients.”  

Borrelli fondly remembers one such collaborative cross-campus project: the installation of key fob access systems at building entrances. “I’m proud of how many of us came together to carry this out,” she says. “It made the campus safer for everyone.”  

Another project Borrelli is looking forward to is an upcoming window installation at North Borden, replacing wooden windows with fibreglass, which is more stable and durable. 

For Borrelli, the best part of her job is that she’s always learning.  

She’ll often call up the trades department for a technical explanation behind a repair. Currently, she is enrolled in courses at the School of Continuing Studies where she has earned certificates in project management and business analysis, is actively pursuing a certificate in leadership, and is planning to start one in business process management in the coming year. 

Outside of work, Borrelli enjoys soccer, playing as a striker for a co-ed league.