Architecture Fridays: The Honour Court and the William Small Centre

Honour Court (credit: York University

The Honour Court, nestled along York Boulevard, serves as the first impression of the Keele Campus for visitors to the University. The sleek, concrete and stone structure was designed by Stephen Teeple and Associates to soften the entrance to the campus. Completed in 2000, the building has won multiple awards including the 2002 Award of Excellence from the Ontario Architects Association and the Circle of Excellence Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

Furthermore, the project has been recognized for its innovative approach to donor recognition programs. The Pavilion Wall of the Honour Court is constructed from five types of granite bocks, each which mark the cumulative gifts of donors since the University’s founding in 1959. This permeable and open-ended wall remains light and airy throughout the daytime while allowing a soft glow from internal lighting to filter through in the evening, illustrating the University’s capacity for continued growth.

Arboretum Parking Garage (credit: York University)

Of a similar vintage is the William Small Centre and Arboretum Parking Garage. Completed in 2003 by Robbie/Young + Wright and Rich and Associates. With a strategic intent to minimize crime through design, the ceilings and columns in the parking garage are painted white to maximize light availability. Another little-known fact about this structure is the outdoor astronomical observation deck located on the roof of the garage, perfect for stargazing!