SLC commended for inclusivity by Toronto Urban Design Awards
Photo: Since opening in 2015, the SLC has grown into a dual role as both a Ryerson and a community space. Photo by Christopher Manson.
Since opening in February 2015, Ryerson University’s Student Learning Centre (SLC) has done more than provide a space for students: it has transformed the character of Yonge Street. The SLC’s contributions to Toronto have been recognized by the 2017 Toronto Urban Design Awards (external link) , where the building received an Award of Excellence for Public Buildings in Context.
Held every two years and decided by a jury of industry professionals, the awards recognize “unequivocally public” buildings that respond to their surroundings, strengthen the public realm, and make a positive contribution to the life of the city.
The jury praised the public nature of the SLC as “a powerful statement about its inclusion on Yonge Street and how it can contribute to the public realm.” The jury also praised the architecture, praising its inviting south-facing plaza as “a strong urban gateway to Ryerson University. … Overall, the building has a youthful, engaging feel that is appropriate to Ryerson University and to its downtown context on Yonge Street.”
“We opened our building to the public, and the number of bodies that walk into the building has been far beyond what we imagined,” said Saher Fazilat, assistant vice-president, Facilities Management and Development. “When the building was designed, it was designed to address a lack of student study space on campus. But it’s morphed quickly into a community space, and our own success led to us adapting: we updated the doors and elevators to accommodate more people. It was never designed to host such a volume, but it has evolved to accommodate. It’s a win-win situation.”
Striking a balance between providing space for students, adapting to the surroundings, and looking forward to the future of Yonge Street has been one of the building’s biggest accomplishments. “I think the building brings a lot of energy to Yonge Street,” said Fazilat. “More and more development is coming along Yonge Street, giving the street a more modernized look. The SLC provided Ryerson a frontage into Yonge Street”
Located at 341 Yonge St., the 10-storey, 156,000-square-foot SLC was designed by a partnership between Snøhetta & Zeidler Partnership Architects, and has been LEED gold-certified. In addition to offering student space, it houses a range of academic stakeholders, including RULA, Sandbox by DMZ (external link) , School of Performance (external link) , and Student Learning Support. It has also been inclusively designed, including exterior signage to easily identify the front entrance ramp and accessibility elevator; updated elevator signage; braille next to elevator buttons; and a bright yellow pathway (more easily visibly to the blind or partially sighted) leading from elevators to the welcome desk.
For more information, visit the SLC website.