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O C T O B E R 2 0 2 0 | 67 NUSU Student Centre – Nipissing University P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E SY N I P I SS I N G U N I V ER S I T Y; R EN D ER I N GS CO U RT E SY M I TC H EL L J EN S EN A RC H I T EC T S NUSU STUDENT CENTRE – NIPISSING UNIVERSITY by LAURA NEWTON LOCATION 221 College Drive, North Bay, Ontario OWNER /DEVELOPER Nipissing University, Nipissing University Student Union (NUSU) ARCHITECT Mitchell Jensen Architects GENER AL CONTR ACTOR Kenalex Construction Company Limited STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT WSP Canada MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Piotrowski Consultants Ltd. L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Vertechs Design Inc. TOTAL SIZE 32,357 square feet TOTAL COST $15 million T he Nipissing University Student Union (NUSU) Student Centre is all about fostering connection – connection among the University community, as well as connection with the surrounding Northern Ontario geography. "As the University has grown, so too has the need for a cen- tral location where students, alumni, and the broader community can come together to learn, to socialize, and to engage in many ways," explains Nipissing University's Cheryl Sutton of the project's origins. Mitchell Jensen Architects worked with Nipissing University to define a set of principles to guide the design of a quintessential Northern Ontario stu- dent centre. "We felt the new building should take advantage of its beauti- ful site, offer extensive views to nature, allow for ample natural light, use a palette of warm materials inspired by nature and, most importantly, should be an inviting home that welcomes all students on campus," says Nathan Jensen, president of Mitchell Jensen Architects. "When designing we con- tinuously returned to these principles, resulting in a building that is funda- mentally organized around nature, and specifically, the goal of offering every student space in the building a view to the beautiful new student courtyard and Northern Ontario landscape." In keeping with this design phi- losophy, the building's exterior is clad in linear brick, metal panels, and features vertical grain Douglas Fir soffits – a material palette directly inspired by the natural surroundings on campus, including exposed gran- ite outcroppings and dense forest. "Extensive glass creates a light-filled building while providing expan- sive views to the beautiful coniferous forests that surround the building," adds Warren Lindsay of NUSU. Upon entering the Student Centre Building, guests are greeted by a two-sto- rey atrium full of natural stone and wood features, as well as two study rooms that look out onto the mixed-use courtyard. "A key feature is a huge undulating wall in the main lobby that is skinned with large format porcelain tile sheets," says Bernie Graham of Kenalex Construction Company Limited. Flooring throughout the interior is comprised of a combination of porce- lain tile, sealed concrete, and carpet tile, while wall finishes include a com- bination of brick, tongue and groove wood, back painted glass, ceramic tile, and painted gypsum. Full glass walls separate a retail space from the main lobby as well as between the two study areas, while the included nightclub has two large retractable walls to isolate a separate restaurant area on the main floor and the upper mezzanine. "The second floor will house our NUSU offices, board rooms, clubs' storage, and a mezzanine that can be used for smaller meetings and events," explains Lindsay. The space of the sec- ond-floor boardroom is enclosed by fully glazed floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a view from the North Bay escarpment overlooking Lake Nipissing. "One of the most dramatic por- tions of the building is the South West wing that features a huge flying cantilevered structure that projects six-metres above the first floor and the beautiful landscaped courtyard," says Graham of the second-floor's long structure that houses the student boardroom. "Along the entire length of the south second floor stretches a dramatic balcony with glass rails that overlooks the natural surrounding and the south court yard through full two-storey height curtain walls." Outside, the new student quad is set to serve as a valuable outdoor gath- ering and study space on campus with a Northern Ontario charac- ter. Jensen explains that, while the space is inspired by traditional quad courtyards found on larger campuses – outdoor student spaces typically lined with university buildings on all four sides – the overall design phi- losophy factored heavily into the courtyard's placement and shape. "The result is a quad defined by the new Student Centre building on two sides and the existing forest line on the others, creating what we think of as a unique Northern Ontario quad experience," says Jensen. During these uncertain times, when the ways that we can meet and interact with each other can change on a dime, NUSU Student Centre pro- vides thoughtful design that offers the capacity to adapt, making the build- ing flexible for event programming in almost every area and working to sup- port the development of meaningful connections and productive relation- ships. "We can accommodate and facilitate events for large or small stu- dent groups, while still encompassing the natural elements and close-knit campus feel that attracts students to Nipissing University and Northern Ontario," concludes Lindsay. A 8:24 AM 11:11 AM