Public Art on Canadian Campuses

As has been discussed earlier on this blog, York University is home to an impressive and diverse collection of public art that contributes to the overall character of the campus landscape.

YorkU is not alone in recognizing the value of public art in creating a sense of ‘place’ and illustrating the institution’s commitment to creativity.

Canadian universities have experienced a recent surge in commissioning and acquiring public art. With renewed investment in capital projects, academic institutions are deliberately setting aside funds to include public art within or alongside these new developments.

The University of Toronto Scarborough unveiled its very first commissioned work last year. Created by artists Christian Giroux and Daniel Young, the 40-foot sculpture leads patrons into the new Instructional Centre.

(Interregnum at UTSC’s Instructional Centre credit: UTSC Commons)

Although there is a growing trend in installing majors works such as Interregnum, the opportunity still depends on funding. Often the means for a commissioned or acquired work come from donors or public funding, but can also be derived from percent-for-art policies that require a percentage of the budget for new buildings to be reserved for public art.

An early adopter of this policy was the Quebec provincial government. The Politique d’intégration des arts à l’architecture et à l’environnement was developed in the 1960s and requires that 1% of the budget for publically funded buildings be allocated to public art. The policy now extends to every institution that benefits from government funding for construction, which includes Concordia University.

Renderings of Leap by Adad Hannah, a Concordia grad, to be installed later this year (credit: Adad Hannah Studio and Saia Barbarese Topouzanov Architectes)

Concordia is home to over 40 works of outdoor public art across its two campuses, and over 200 in their entire public collection. To manage such a vast collection, the University established a Cultural Property Database that assists in organizing the ongoing documentation and management of each piece. This system also helps the University to promote the collection on their website through a highly trafficked ‘virtual exhibition’.

Solar Net by Gerald Gladstone at the University of Toronto (credit: Toronto Sculpture Guide)

Other universities are not far behind in creating a mandate for public art and policies to help guide the acquisition and management processes. The University of Alberta approved its Art Acquisition and Commissioning Procedure in May of 2011 to support the existing collection, which was established in 1912, and regulate processes for the addition of new works. The University of Toronto Art Collections Policy, published in 2009, operates similarly by outlining the principles and processes for public art management. This includes the establishment of an Art Acquisitions Committee for each campus and the University of Toronto Art Committee as governing bodies.

Where have you encountered public art that has had an impact on you? Would you support a percent-for-public-art policy at YorkU?

Evolution of The Common

A sunny spring day in The Common (credit: York University)

As the main ceremonial entrance to YorkU, and a constant hub of activity, The Common (formally known as the Harry W. Arthurs Common) is the heart of the YorkU campus. Various iterations of the University Master Plan have guided the evolution of The Common and have been influential in determining both its form and functions.  With a new master plan in development, as well as the arrival of a subway station, The Common is currently in the midst of another period of transition.

York Boulevard leading up to the Ross Building (credit: York University)

1970s-1980s: Prior to the construction of Vari Hall, The Common consisted of a curving boulevard, surrounded by surface parking.  The looping roads shown in the photo above are reflective of the 1963 Master Plan.  It served the needs of a predominately single-person vehicle commuting population, but was not pedestrian or environmentally friendly.

New landscaping with construction of Vari Hall (credit: York University)

1990s-2000s: With the construction of Vari Hall in the early 1990s, as well as an updated 1988 Master Plan, The Common received a significant makeover.  Reimagined as an open green space, asphalt was replaced with grass, trees, trellises, and a fountain, making it a social and recreational gathering space for the campus community. Since people were increasingly travelling to campus via public transit, car access was eventually replaced with the bus loop, which now serves as a transit hub for the larger region.  The Common was also given a stronger sense of enclosure with the construction of the Student Centre, Accolades East & West, York Lanes, and the York Research Tower around the perimeter.

Concept illustration of The Common with proposed subway station design (credit: YUDC)

2010s-Future: The Common is now evolving into its third iteration, with the new subway station under construction on the east side (look out for an upcoming post on the design of the station).  Bus traffic will be significantly reduced, improving local air quality and making the space even friendlier to pedestrians.  More seating and recreational opportunities will be provided to help foster a greater sense of community, in addition to further greening of the space and making it more accessible for all to benefit from its amenities.




How would you like to see The Commons evolve in the future? What changes would improve this space for your day-to-day use?

Commuter Campuses

It is well-known that York University is largely a commuter campus. Students arrive to class each day from all across the GTA, via bus, bicycle, car, subway and foot. While the new subway extension will help to make these commutes faster and easier, the unique issues that commuter students face on-campus will remain.

With long spans of time in-between classes and heavy books and laptops to carry around, commuter students are often seeking places to study, relax, eat and hang out with friends before they head home for the day.

A few Canadian universities have been working diligently to address these issues.

Commuter Hostel and UBC (credit: UBC)

 At the University of British Columbia two thirds of the student population lives off-campus. This majority cohort prompted the institution to develop a series of support services that could help students to feel more involved in campus life. ‘Connections Magazine’, published annually in the fall semester, works to keep off-campus students informed of events and opportunities available at the Point Grey campus. The Faculty of Arts goes a step further to run FAACT, the Faculty of Arts Academic Commuter Transition program, to provide academic support targeted at students who do not live in residence. A few years ago UBC also attempted to address the academic and social issues faced by off-campus students by establishing the Commuter Student Hostel at the Walter Gage Residence. For up to two nights a week students can rent a room for $30 if they have late classes or perhaps an early morning exam. Students who stay at the hostel are also welcome to participate in Residence Life events.

Okanagan University Centre (credit: UBC)

At UBC Okanagan, the sister campus to Point Grey, a recently built University Centre works to accommodate commuter students. The building is home to three collegium, each with their own lounges, individual and group workspaces and kitchen facilities open to all students.

Carleton faces similar issues as half of its undergraduate student population commutes to campus each day. To represent the needs of this group the University established the Commuter Student Council, whose representatives are elected year and work to organize regular social events for off-campus students.

Ribbon cutting ceremony at the UofT Commuter Student Centre (credit: UofT)

UofT is also home to a large commuter population, both on the St. George and Scarborough campuses. Their Commuter Student Mentorship Program works to pair upper-year, off-campus students with incoming off-campus students based on either area of residence or program of study. The partnership is intended to familiarize first-year students with the campus and encourage involvement in the university community. Off-campus student meal plans are also available at UofT to ensure students have access to fairly priced food between classes. 

The recently opened UofT Commuter Student Centre is perhaps the University’s most notable commitment to improving the experiences of off-campus students. 3,500 students within University College have the opportunity to use the new 2,500 square foot centre for studying, relaxing between classes or meeting up with friends. With wireless Internet and open hours between 9am and 9pm, commuting students have a place to call their own on campus.

The University of Guelph’s Off Campus University Students association (OCUS) is another innovative model for encouraging student involvement. The association boasts a large lounge in the University Centre with couches and a kitchen that is open to off-campus students everyday. Off-Campus Student Facilitators volunteer to call first-year off-campus students at least twice a semester to offer advice, gain insight into what amenities could be useful to improve the lives of off-campus students, and ensure students are enjoying their university experiences.

Do you commute to campus? If so, what amenities could York University offer that would make your time on campus more enjoyable?

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!

Green Buildings on Campus

(credit: York University)

Built in partnership between York University and Seneca College, the Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Building showcases the commitment of both institutions to creating a more sustainable future for students, faculty and staff.

Envisioned as a ‘place of discovery’ by famed architects Moriyama & Teshima, the 2003 TEL Building fosters a culture of growth, learning and exploration through its own innovative concept. The energy-efficient structure is designed to capture an abundance of natural light, which warms the structure while enhancing spaces for social interaction, lectures and meetings. These and other green initiatives contribute to the building’s 25% reduction in energy consumption!

(credit: York University)

Constructed in 2004 as another environmentally-friendly project by architectsAlliance, the Pond Road Residence incorporates leading-edge sustainable initiatives into its framework. It is the newest undergraduate residence on campus and is an impressive nine storeys high to make room for a growing student population.

The building features a 1,000 square metre planted greenroof that increases thermal insulation and strategically stores ground water, reducing run-off. It also contains an “in-slab” radiant heating and cooling system that uses less energy and provides better airflow than conventional forced-air or electric heaters.

What have your experiences been with these buildings? Do you know about other sustainable initiatives on campus?

Outdoor Activities on Campus

(credit: York University Red Zone)

Instead of hiding away from the snow, wind and chilly air, why not try to make the most of the Canadian winter by enjoying some time outside?

There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor physical activity on the Keele Campus. The four major woodlots on campus boast trails, benches and an abundance of picturesque views – perfect for afternoon hikes with friends or morning jogs.

The Pond also accommodates a variety of winter activities, from long walks along the trails and through the arboretum to the ideal venue to watch local wildlife on the edges of the water from the adjacent seating.

Perhaps the Active Living Challenge will give you the extra encouragement you need to enjoy the outdoor recreational opportunities at YorkU. Hosted by the Health Education & Promotion team, the Active Living Challenge promotes the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle by offering students rewards and prizes based on performance. Beginning in January, students are encouraged to register with YU Connect and track their physical activity – be it a jog around campus, a walk in the park, or an hour at the gym.

(credit: York University)

The initiation of the program to the entire campus (previously limited to students living in residence) comes on the heels of the new Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. It is now recommended that each Canadian get 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week, in 10-minute bouts or more.

Why not reach this goal while getting some fresh air and sunshine too?

What are you favourite places on the Keele Campus to walk through? Which locations do you think are the most enjoyable during the winter?

Student Centre at the Heart of Campus

(credit: York University)

The hub of student life on campus, the Student Centre serves a wide variety of purposes on the Keele Campus and is accessed each day by thousands of students, faculty and staff.

As such a highly trafficked space, the Student Centre was created to accommodate the needs of many different groups, organizations and services. The new modernist aesthetic led the design of an open-concept space that is easily adapted for new uses.

Architects A.J. Diamond and Donald Schmitt & Company designed the large structure to be the cultural, social and educational heart of the campus and to complete the linked colonnade around The Common.  Extensive wood paneling and a helical staircase create an open and airy ambiance within the Great Hall while allowing for large gatherings to take place on the main and underground levels.

The building was recognized for its balance in functional and aesthetic considerations in 1993 when it received the North York Design Awards merit for Outstanding Architecture and Design, and again in 1996 when it received the Governor-General’s Award for Architecture.

Do you frequent the student centre? Where is your favourite place to hang out or eat lunch in this building?