Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/493534
92 | A PR IL 2015 Student Learning Centre – Ryerson University U ntil as recently as the 1970s, uni- versity life was considered as some- how separate from the real world, a kind of secular cloister where social life was subordinate to the essentially soli- tary practice of learning. This idea of the noble institution is identifiable in much of iconic campus architecture – think of the ivy-covered walls of the University of Toronto and Robarts Library, with its tiny arrow-slit windows and Brutalist design. These are serious buildings, designed in service of books and the pursuit of knowledge, certainly not hanging out. Given the collaborative nature of many of the disciplines for which Ryerson is justly celebrated, it had become clear in recent years that the campus was woefully underserved for comfortable group work spaces, as well as a cohesive space to simply interact. Ryerson's Student Learning Centre, which opened its doors in late February, is something new both for the campus and for the city: a building that not only addresses academic needs, such as study and learning spaces, central- ized student services and presentation areas of various kinds, but is geared at least as much to life beyond stud- ies. There are plenty of places to meet and socialize; a café, and areas where students can simply enjoy the space. It's also one of the most beautiful build- ings to go up in downtown Toronto in many years. According to Michael Cotton, the new building's project manager, there were many things they had to get right. "One of the most important considerations was that the Student Learning Centre be the new face for the university. It was important that this building be iconic and visually prominent. On the other hand, because Ryerson is committed to being city builders and have a truly integrated urban campus, it was also important that the building relate to the commercial nature and personality of Yonge Street, a main commercial cor- ridor. In many ways, the design of this project was about finding a balance for both the commercial and academic pro- gram elements, to share this corner site without creating a conflict." These were among the criteria that the university presented to Zeidler Partnership Architects in 2010, when the new Student Learning Centre was f irst conceived. Recog nizing t hat something really special was called for, Zeidler's principals brought in the Norwegian firm Snøhetta as part- ners, whose work, according to Zeidler architect Vaidila Banelis, they had seen and much admired in Europe and the Middle East. The new Student Learning Centre meets and exceeds all these criteria. A sparkling sugar cube of a building, raised on slim angled stalks and set slightly off- centre to the street corner, the building is on a raised platform that houses retail on the Yonge Street side and has wide steps above the Gould side, adding pres- ence to the covered plaza that leads into the building. A blue-tinted, two-planed slice off the outer bottom corner (cor- responding to another slice off the opposite top corner), gives it a jaunty look that's as friendly as it is arresting. The shape would be unusual enough, but there's more: the glass faces on each side (save the north) feature an elaborate yet delicate tracery of tiny Student Learning Centre – Ryerson University by MARTHA UNIACKE BREEN Do you have a project of interest to our readers? If you would like your project to be considered for a future issue of Award, please email: Dan Chapman, Publisher dchapman@canadawide.com