Award

M A R C H 2 0 2 3 | 83 Toldo Lancer Centre – University of Windsor P H OTO G R A P H Y BY CU RT C L AY TO N /CO U RT E S Y C S & P A RC H I T EC T S TOLDO LANCER CENTRE – UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR by JESSICA KIRBY T he Toldo Lancer Centre is a literal and figurative light in the distance beckoning University of Windsor students to a connected, layered hub for cam- pus health, wellness, and gathering. The 119,000-square-foot state-of-the- art, accessible facility features a triple gymnasium with seating for 2,000 spectators; an eight-lane, 25-metre pool; a recreational walking/running track; a fitness centre and multi-pur- pose rooms, and outdoor amenities that include playing fields, running paths, and general recreational areas. But that is only the beginning. The Toldo Lancer Centre will also be home of the University's convo- cations, community celebrations, championships, and large-scale events including science fairs, job fairs, youth and student events, and conferences. The facility offers oppor- tunities for health research and community use, exemplifying the University's strong relationship with its neighbours and the wider region. "The Toldo Lancer Centre is a bold and ambitious project that aims to be a beacon of campus and community pride for generations to come," says Vincent Georgie, associate VP external at the University of Windsor. Craig Goodman, architect and principal with CS&P Architects who worked alongside hcma, says the University of Windsor's campus has grown from the original con- templative quadrangle core into the surrounding neighbourhoods. The Toldo Lancer Centre site is remote from the central campus and set back from the street and is connected by an interrupted walking path with rail- way and traffic obstacles. A key design principle was finding a way to mass the building so it could serve as the "beacon" to the community. "We built height and transparent mass so the facility glows as an invit- ing main entrance," Goodman says. "We formed the glass exterior in a sharp, angled prow – like the prow of a ship – with feature lighting and colour that glows at night." The large mechanical room on the roof was strategically positioned to add significant visibility and mass, and a new pedestrian procession with improved walkways offers a clear path to the Centre. The site challenged the team in two ways. First, was to reinforce and support clear pedestrian and vehicle routes. Analysis through history and an archeological study revealed the site is adjacent to historic Indigenous passages between long-term settle- ments on either side of the Detroit River. As a result of this research, the project aspires to establish a pedes- trian circulation armature that re-instates this strong idea. Secondly, the site presented dif- ficult soils. Assisted by intense geotechnical study, the team adapted the design to suit the site, which has a two-metre rise south to north. They discovered mid-design that they couldn't assume conventional foun- dations because of the geotechnical balance requirements. In reply, they replaced gravel with a lightweight infill that instructed a lot of the design decisions at the structural level. The existing complex geometries on the site introduced several con- flicting and overlapping footprints that had to be reconciled – such as the street pattern, the adjacent stadium, and the various phases of the existing building, which received an idio- syncratic addition in the 1980s. "The position of the Toldo Lancer Centre provided a logical resolution for these geometries by bringing them together to create a central interior piazza that enhances the residual leftover space between major program elements with an interesting irregular shaped social gathering space." The layering of complex geometries echoes a prevalent tapestry theme that inspired the design team in the early stages and became a starting point for exploring ways to express this throughout the project. The exterior is a mix of curtain wall with a surface tapestry frit that enhances visibility for the birds, while supplying daylight into every corner, including the pool – which features ribbon glass – and the gymnasium. The building also features layered, staggered metal clad- ding with shadow relief, so it reads in a series of repetitive interlocked panels that show off a beautiful, cor- rugated pattern in the daylight. Inside, concrete floors offer dura- bility for hundreds of students moving throughout, and an integrated language of solid and acoustic panels offers con- tinuity and opportunities for branding. "We worked with the students and faculty for 18 months to develop two large murals – one focused on student life and inclusiveness and another connected to the accomplish- ments and history of varsity athletics," Goodman says. "This adds to the the- matic layering of finishes." At the entrance, a stunning three- metre-high textile wall hanging by Walpole Island First Nation art- ist Teresa Altiman welcomes visitors with colourful imagery depicting a connection to the planet. Protecting Mother Earth is a celebration of nature as seen through Indigenous culture, comprised of hundreds of pieces of fabric, some as slender as toothpicks. "It has things in it that are important to me and to the Anishinaabe people," Altiman says. "The arrowheads rep- resent our ancestors who have walked the land before us. It is important to remember our ancestors and those who came before us." A high-efficiency mechanical heat recovery system distributes through the facility for maximized conserva- tion. The existing 63,000-square-foot field house was renovated to reduce carbon and greenhouse gas emissions by replacing old gas-fired units with high-efficiency models and reduced energy use through a full LED lighting programme in new and existing spaces. "An important characteristic of this project was how deeply involved the student and faculty members were from early design to comple- tion," Goodman says. "We recognized their input and contribution as they were the major funders [commit- ting $55 million, the largest student contribution by any Canadian uni- versity] and so had a major interest and the best knowledge of student needs. We built a strong relation- ship with each of the representative student groups, and I think that comes through in the built result." Working under the essential-ser- vice-only model, the University of Windsor project team, project man- ager Colliers, general contractors EllisDon and Fortis Group and the architectural team were able to com- plete a bold and impressive project that will positively impact health and wellness for many years to come. A LOCATION University of Windsor, 2555 College Avenue, Windsor, Ontario OWNER University of Windsor PROJECT MANAGER Colliers Project Leaders ARCHITECT CS&P Architects ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT hcma GENER AL CONTR ACTORS EllisDon / Fortis Construction STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT Entuitive MECHANICAL /ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Smith + Andersen L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Bezaire Partners CIVIL CONSULTANT Haddad Morgan and Associates TOTAL SIZE 119,000 square feet TOTAL COST $73 million

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