Schulich School Of Business and Executive Learning Centre

Address: 4700 Keele Street
Architects: Hariri Pontarini Architects and Robbie/Young & Wright Architects
Landscape Architect: The MBTW Group and Janet Rosenberg & Associates
Client: York University

Project Description

The new building is a visual landmark at the main entry of the York campus. The architectural composition balances a point tower of opalescent glass against a three-storey base that defines the eastern edge of the main York 'Commons'. The building establishes a street-related architecture that is unique to this part of the campus as well as setting a new standard for the university in the strength and quality of its exterior finishes. The building is clad in natural materials that embody the longevity that was once expected of all great university buildings.

The north perimeter of the building conforms to the gentle curvature of York Boulevard and introduces a protected pedestrian level environment. The streetscape along this façade is animated by undulating stone piers, a colonnade of trees, a large copper entrance canopy and a cloistered walkway with glass overhead doors that disappear in the warm months. The walkway frames large windowed classrooms, allowing passersby glimpses of activity within. The remaining façades define a traditional street pattern and introduce broad sidewalks and ground level planting that bring an urban quality to this part of the campus.

Jurors' Comments

The task of the architects, excellently fulfilled in this finely detailed academic complex, included the creation of a strong gateway building for a campus set on former farmland, and a work of architectural imagination that expresses the sociable, fluidly mobile character of contemporary business culture. The use of native stone, the allowance for much natural light, and the provision of wide views join the structure to the semi-urban Ontario landscape, creating a modern picturesque atmosphere. A thoughtful sequence of interior spaces encourages the various modes of interactivity crucial to the smooth working of global capitalism.