Public Art on Campus

Public art can manifest itself in many forms. Whether it is large-scale contemporary sculptural works, functional elements integrated into the public realm, temporary video or sound installation or some other site-specific design concept, public art has the ability to capture the public’s imagination and characterize a place.

Hugh LeRoy, Rainbow Piece, 1972

There is growing recognition of the importance of investment in public art, and in creative and cultural endeavors more broadly. Subsequently, there is also a growing awareness of potential opportunities for public art and the benefits that can be derived from it. Public art can reaffirm or reveal a sense of place. It can evoke aspects of the social, natural, cultural, physical, political or historical context of the site and its locale. Public art enhances the physical fabric of the campus community by creating beloved landmarks, and reflecting the growth and progress of the institution. It can be a source of school pride, encourage social exchange and convey YorkU’s cultural image and commitment to fostering a clear sense of identity.

Public art improves the built environment, and the community that thrives within it.

Enzo Cucchi, Fontana d'Italia, 1993

York University has consistently recognized the importance of public art to the vitality of the campus and has procured an impressive collection of works. With a wide range in materials and scale, from both local and international artists (including a few YorkU professors!), the YorkU public art collection is renowned for its forward-thinking approach to enhancing the campus. And, as seen in the most recent addition of the William McElcheran sculpture ‘Encounter’, the collection continues to grow.

Mark di Suvero, Sticky Wicket, 1978

The agYU proudly showcases this collection through an online catalogue with detailed descriptions of works and artists (available here) and guided walking tour of the artworks. If you are interested in exploring the public art on campus, or in furthering your knowledge of the stories behind these pieces, we encourage you to join a tour.

What piece of public art on campus is your favourite? How do you think the collection enhances the Keele Campus?

*All images are by Isaac Applebaum, from agYU's self-guided outdoor sculpture tour (with permission).

Great Examples of Designing for Winter

Montreal's Fete des Neiges (crédit: Montreal Tourist Guide)

Not far from Toronto and the YorkU campus, Montreal is looked to worldwide as a beacon of successful winter design. Although it is home to some of the harshest of weather conditions of any major Canadian city, Montreal chooses to embrace its climate and celebrate its environment. The City hosts a wide variety of outdoor events and activies that ensure residents and tourists continue exploring and accessing local amenities year-round. From the Grand Bal du Nouvel An outdoor New Years celebration, to La Fete des Neiges week of children’s programming and Old Montreal’s annual Extravaganza month-long event of live music and entertainment, the City does not slow down with a chill in the air.

Montreal has also mastered the art of the everyday interaction with winter, in addition to the above annual events. The local ‘café culture’ sees patrons of the urban core sitting outside under heated and covered restaurant patios year-round. The local willingness to embrace the season is encouraged by the City, which offers free outdoor ice skating, snow-shoeing and tobogganing opportunities within the highly trafficked Mount Royal Park.

Cycling remains popular throughout the winter in Copenhagen (credit: Mikael Colville-Andersen)

Basking in its own winter glory is Copenhagen, the capital of the small Scandinavian island of Denmark with a population just over 1 million. The high latitute of the city means that daylight can be as short as six hours in the depths of winter, but this doesn’t deter the Danes from making the most of their days. Much like Montrealers, local residents spend hours outside at downtown cafes sipping coffees in the cold – although they snuggle under fleece blankets provided by almost every restaurant.

Skating in Copenhagen's central square (credit: WikiTravel)

 As 80% of all inner city traffic is pedestrian, Copenhagen prioritizes the winter stroller. The City has strategically planned for maximum thermal comfort by maintaining low masses of buildings that allow the harsh ocean winds to pass over urban areas while at the same time catching sunlight on the street level. To further enhance the pedestrian experience throughout the year, Copenhagen has continued to dedicate central ‘pedestrian only’ zones in the heart of downtown that are well-linked to metro and bus services, making walking a viable mode of transporation throughout the City and keeping the streets animated year-round. This urban character was further enhanced over the past few decades as local government embarked on an initiative to provide second-story housing opportunities over shops and restaurants. The light streaming from upper windows in the evening creates a more inviting and safe atmosphere for pedestrians below.

As we can see in these and many other winter cities, outdoor places can retain strength and value throughout the season by maintaining a purpose, be that recreational, educational, industrial or social. Dense and deliberate design strategies minimize negative effects of weather on public spaces and allow for increased movement and participation within the city.

What outdoor spaces do you enjoy on the Keele Campus? Can you think of any events or regular programming you would like to see on campus during the winter?

York U's Award-Winning Green Design

(credit: York University)

York University’s Computer Science and Engineering Building has the distinctive honour of being the first cold-weather ‘green’ building to be built by a Canadian University and reflects York’s deep commitment to sustainability. Completed in 2003, the building was designed by Toronto-based architectsAlliance in partnership with Vancouver-based Busby + Associates.

(image provided by architectsAlliance)

(image provided by architectsAlliance)

(image provided by architectsAlliance)

Built on an infill development site instead of a green field, the disturbance to surrounding wildlife and vegetation was minimized. The structure’s ventilation system forgoes any traditional ductwork and instead relies on the atrium spaces to capture heat stratification opportunities and a south-facing window façade to obtain additional warmth. The roof garden also aids in the heating and cooling by insulating the building, as does the calculated placement of computer rooms in the north end to minimize heat gain in the summer and heat loss in winter. 

These and other innovative solutions have resulted in one-third of the energy requirements of comparable buildings, which translates into a savings of 68% of energy required to heat, cool and light the structure. It is estimated that over a 75-year span the Computer Science and Engineering Building will save 85,700 tonnes of green house gas emissions equivalents, or one barrel of oil per occupant per year!

These extensive efforts towards greening the campus have not gone unnoticed. The building won the 2002 Governor General’s Award in Architecture and was named the 2002 World Architecture Magazine’s Green Building of the Year.

What greening efforts on campus are you involved in?

Before and After

We're going to continue our trip down memory lane today with a closer look at the changing shape of the York University Keele Campus.

(credit: York University)

The photo above shows students making their way down the ramp from the Ross Building on commencement day during the 1970s. The ramp, as you will see again in the image below, was later removed to make way for Vari Hall.

(credit: York University)

(credit: York University)

The image above shows the construction on Vari Hall in the early 1990s, which is now the ceremonious heart of the campus.




What changes have you seen on the campus? 

Spring on Campus

As we crawl into the depths of winter this December, we can take comfort in envisioning that tiny glimmer of hope at the end of all the slush, wind, snow and cold…Spring! That joyous season of relief when everyone eagerly strips off coats mitts and hats faster than you can say “temperatures above freezing.”

A sign of rebirth, new life and a fresh start, there is a lot to celebrate during Spring. Many Canadian universities have jumped into the spirit of the season by hosting events and festivals that emulate its buoyant, cheerful nature.

Brock University Spring Festival of the Arts (credit: Brock University)

Brock University’s Spring Festival of the Arts is hosted by the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts. The annual event celebrates the multidisciplinary work of students, faculty and university partners. Taking place in venues across the Niagara Region throughout March and April, the Spring Festival encourages audiences to take in musical, dance and theatrical performances and visit a diverse array of visual arts exhibitions.

The University of Saskatchewan partakes in a similarly celebratory festival of arts. The Spring Festival of New Plays is organized by the Saskatchewan Playwrights’ Centre, and the University is an active partner in its development. Active since 1983, the Spring Festival attracts directors from across the country to work with local playwrights and actors (including U of Saskatchewan students) through intensive workshops and culminating performances. Hosted between the City, local residents and U of Saskatchewan, this event is a great model for University-community engagement through its collaborative celebration of local talent.

Spring Festival Gala at McMaster (credit: McMaster University)

President greets attendees (credit: McMaster University)

McMaster University uses the season to celebrate the diversity of its campus population. The Spring Festival Gala is organized by the Confucius Institute at McMaster, in partnership with the Chinese Students and Scholars Association and Mohawk University Chinese Student Union. Traditional dance, martial arts and musical performers celebrate the changing of seasons by entertaining students, faculty, staff and community attendees at the April event.

What kinds of events do you think YorkU could organize to celebrate Spring? 

Art Inspires the Built Form

(credit: York University)

Accolade East and Accolade West lie at the heart of the YorkU campus. Home to the Faculty of Fine Arts, these adjacent structures were thoughtfully designed with their users in mind.

Renowned Toronto architects Zeidler Partnership, in collaboration with Bregman & Hamann Architects, were charged with creating a space that would accommodate not only lectures and office requirements, but also the needs of performers, visual artists and musicians who regularly exhibit work to the campus community.

Only recently completed in 2006, the buildings also boast state-of-the-art acoustic design. Innovative curvature to the walls and the restrained use of windows give performers the best opportunity to showcase their talents by protecting the integrity of sound in these buildings.

The designers drew inspiration from beloved Canadian artists The Group of Seven, whose distinctive northern landscape and swaying trees are reflected in the façade of the Accolade buildings and create a softened appearance to the large structures.

Do you use Accolade East or Accolade West for studying or hanging out? What do you like about these buildings?