It’s said that Ryerson University can be found at the intersection of Mind and Action. Ryerson’s new Student Learning Centre can certainly be found there, although the actual street address is the intersection of Yonge and Gould, in the busy heart of Toronto, one of the world’s most vibrant and diverse cities.
Mohamed Lachemi, Ryerson University’s provost and vice president academic, says the Student Learning Centre project was already engaging the minds and actions of Ryerson students long before the first shovel was turned. “Students are part of everything we do at Ryerson,” Lachemi says. “Student groups in the hundreds were involved in the initial discussion about the building, the nature of the building, and also the function the building provides.”
In 2009, a competition was held to choose a design team to make what the students envisioned a reality. Zeidler Partnership Architects, a leading Canadian firm, joined forces with the celebrated international firm Snøhetta to win the competition. When they decided on a crystalline, gem-like appearance for the Student Learning Centre, they struggled to find a supplier who could provide materials for the building’s stunning faceted entryway and atrium within their budget. Terra cotta tiles were too heavy in the necessary sizes, and both glass-fiber reinforced plastic and welded sheet aluminum were prohibitively expensive and would take far too long to fabricate.
Fortunately, ALPOLIC and Flynn Canada was up to the task. ALPOLIC®/fr fire-retardant aluminum composite materials were easier to fabricate, more practical to install, and considerably more affordable than the alternatives. And Lumiflon® FEVE in ALPOLIC® Custom Prismatic SEP Blue Valfon® coatings supplied by Valspar allowed the architects to replicate the blue iridescence they originally envisioned in glazed tile.
Ryerson University Student Learning Centre, Ontario, Canada ALPOLIC®/fr Custom Prismatic SEP Blue Finish
Yet another ambitious vision brought to life by ALPOLIC® materials.
See more photos of the Ryerson University Learning Centre and other projects
Related Stories
| Apr 5, 2011
SSPC, AISC announce joint standard for paint shop certification
SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings and the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) are pleased to announce a joint certification standard for shop application of protective coatings. The standard, "Certification Standard for Shop Application of Complex Protective Coating Systems," describes requirements for certification of firms that shop apply complex painting systems.
| Mar 10, 2011
Steel Joists Clean Up a Car Wash’s Carbon Footprint
Open-web bowstring trusses and steel joists give a Utah car wash architectural interest, reduce its construction costs, and help green a building type with a reputation for being wasteful.
| Mar 8, 2011
ThyssenKrupp Nirosta, Christian Pohl GmbH supply stainless steel to One World Trade Center
Corners of the One World Trade Center 's facade will be edged with stainless steel made in Germany. ThyssenKrupp Nirosta (Krefeld) produced the material at its Dillenburg plant using a customized rolling and heat-treatment process. Partner company Christian Pohl GmbH (Cologne) fabricated the material into complex facade elements for the corners of the New York City skyscraper.
| Feb 22, 2011
Military tests show copper increases HVAC efficiency, reduces odors
Recent testing, which is being funded by the Department of Defense, is taking place in military barracks at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Side-by-side comparisons demonstrate that air conditioning units made with copper suppress the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew that cause odors and reduce system energy efficiency.
| Dec 17, 2010
Gemstone-inspired design earns India’s first LEED Gold for a hotel
The Park Hotel Hyderabad in Hyderabad, India, was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill to combine inspirations from the region’s jewelry-making traditions with sustainable elements.
| Dec 7, 2010
Product of the Week: Petersen Aluminum’s column covers used in IBM’S new offices
IBM’s new offices at Dulles Station West in Herndon, Va., utilized Petersen’s PAC-1000 F Flush Series column covers. The columns are within the office’s Mobility Area, which is designed for a mobile workforce looking for quick in-and-out work space. The majority of workspaces in the office are unassigned and intended to be used on a temporary basis.
| Nov 5, 2010
New Millennium’s Gary Heasley on BIM, LEED, and the nonresidential market
Gary Heasley, president of New Millennium Building Systems, Fort Wayne, Ind., and EVP of its parent company, Steel Dynamics, Inc., tells BD+C’s Robert Cassidy about the Steel Joist Manufacturer’s westward expansion, its push to create BIM tools for its products, LEED, and the outlook for the nonresidential construction market.
| Oct 11, 2010
MBMA Releases Fire Resistance Design Guide for metal building systems
The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) announces the release of the 2010 Fire Resistance Design Guide for Metal Building Systems. The guide provides building owners, architects, engineers, specifiers, fire marshals, building code officials, contractors, product vendors, builders and metal building manufacturers information on how to effectively meet fire resistance requirements of a project with metal building systems.
| Sep 13, 2010
7 Ways to Economize on Steel Buildings
Two veteran structural engineers give you the lowdown on how to trim costs the next time you build with steel.
