Photography by doublespace Photography and Tom Arban Photography Inc.
Like this Toronto suburb’s handling of its own growth, York University’s campus expansion went in the same direction: up, as a compact 400,000-sq.-ft. urban community stacked vertically. The interiors revolve around a soaring five-storey atrium where a ribbon-like stair draws students through classrooms, study areas, and collaborative spaces. Rather than isolating departments, the design keeps activity visually connected, allowing the building itself to encourage interaction. What distinguishes the project is its balance of openness and warmth. Large, glazed areas and carefully positioned vision panels pull daylight deep into the interior, softening the density of the 10-storey building and giving common spaces an unusually calm atmosphere. Curved geometries and rounded circulation zones reduce the institutional feel often associated with higher education, and unified ceiling systems coalesce classrooms, labs, and informal spaces while wood millwork, integrated seating, and restrained accents of York’s signature red create interiors that feel attuned to the collective experience.
As appeared in the July/August 2026 Best of Canada Awards issue of Canadian Interiors magazine.
See all the 2026 Best of Canada Awards winners
