Designed by CannonDesign and opened last year, York University?s second student center is the result of a 2013 referendum in which the student body voted in favor of a second building devoted solely to student space.
Photo Credit: Tom Arban
The student centre secured the highest voter turnout for a student referendum in the history of Canadian post-secondary institutions, according to York University. Thousands of students were consulted for their ideas to make the building inclusive.
Keeping in mind the challenges that post-secondary students face in relation to loneliness, wellness, mental health, and self-confidence, the 150,000-square-foot building is designed to alleviate these concerns and welcome students of all faith, race and creed. ?The Student Centre has always been dedicated to the diverse York University student body that uses it each day. I don?t know of any other project that infused the breadth and depth of student engagement we undertook in the Centre?s design process. We asked, we listened and we understood our students in order to translate their hopes and needs into a building that can make valuable impacts on their experiences for generations,? said Siva Vimalachandran, Executive Director of the Centre.
A primarily transparent building façade acts as a design response to the student body?s desire for the Centre to be open and welcoming to all.
Photo Credit: Tom Arban

Photo Credit: Tom Arban
The two-story Alaskan yellow cedar fin exterior prov...