PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER: University of Toronto at Scarborough Student Centre, Scarborough, Ont.

People's Choice Project Winner

As one of only two university campuses in Canada without a dedicated student activity space, the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus had sought such an amenity since the 1970s. The dream became reality in 2001, when the student body passed a referendum to assess each student $60 for the next 30 years. This commitment was the largest student donation in the 177-year history of the U of T, which responded in kind by matching each dollar at 50 cents and by offering a prime site near the campus entry.

The design mandate was to create a strong image for the centre, be environmentally responsible, minimize operating costs, and improve student life. The Student Centre provides 50,700 square feet of multi-purpose space. Conceived as two intersecting volumes situated over a landscape plane, the “bar” volume houses student services, health services, prayer rooms, clubs, meeting rooms and a bookstore. The “projecting” volume, clad in shimmering titanium and glass, cantilevers dramatically over the main entrance and houses the restaurant-pub, student lounges and central gathering spaces.

Designed to meet the LEED Silver standard, the Student Centre boasts such environmental features as a 20-per cent reduction in water usage, a 40-per cent reduction in energy consumption; low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) materials to enhance indoor air quality; rapidly renewable materials such as bamboo flooring and wheatgrass cabinetry; operable windows; daylight and occupant sensors to reduce artificial-lighting demands; a green roof; and integration with public transit. The construction reused 16 tonnes of structural steel from the Royal Ontario Museum expansion demolition, thereby saving carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to driving a car around the world 16 times.

Levitt: Too bad those pendant lights are so domestic in scale. The furniture is pretty blocky.

Kruse: I’m sure it was dictated by the budget. It’s interesting how, in the lounge, they took a stock diffuser and by incorporating it into the fenestration pattern they made it part of the design instead of being just an ugly vent in the wall. And look how that notch in the sliding cafeteria wall hooks on to the base of the bulkhead.

Taylor: The landscaping is beautiful. Look at the swooping edge where the gravel meets the wall and casts a shadow over the grass; that’s a killer shot.