Perkins+Will has won a competition to design York University’s new building for the School of Continuing Studies. The building will be located at the Keele Campus, in the North York district of Toronto, Canada. The leading architecture firm’s proposal was selected between entries by other renowned practices, like HOK and Gow Hastings Architects with Henning Larsen.
The winning design features a twisting form with a prismatic façade which responds to its context and acts as a landmark for the campus’s South East entrance. It also comprises a new landscaped public space and a drop-off for passengers to facilitate movement.
Courtesy of Perkins+Will
Perkins+Will aspired to promote the sense of belonging to the school by introducing naturally-lit and interconnected spaces to the new building. Such inviting spaces allow for social interaction between students, and they are further capable of holding community-oriented events. “The dramatic form is a calculated response to the campus public realm, patterns of student movement, and the optimization of solar orientation,” explains the firm. “The design balances the needs of the school itself, the larger campus, and the planet, setting a new standard for sustainability, design excellence, and student experience on Canadian campuses.”
Courtesy of Perkins+Will
The building is planned to acquire at least a Gold LEED certification. Accordingly, it encompasses a set of sustainable features,...