Teeple/Morphosis/Two Row were hired to imagine a new future for OCAD University, one that not only provides students with the learning spaces they need on a highly constrained site, but also inter-connects a presently disparate set of learning spaces into a place of social learning. The project is a key opportunity to implement OCAD University’s mission and Academic Plan, including an important focus on sustainability, indigeneity and a focus on 21st century, learner-centred education.
A thorough review of the existing University facilities was undertaken to gain a full understanding of challenges as well as the fantastic attributes of the campus. An intense engagement plan was created and undertaken by our team, engaging students, faculty, the community, and First Nations Groups. Numerous built form options were studied and costed with the assistance of OCAD’s construction manager. An approach was selected, in collaboration with the Steering Committee, weighing the complexity of construction and renovations, cost, quality of learning spaces, sustainable design, and staging. The final plan creates an exciting new vision for the campus, including creating a gateway into one of the city’s premiere public greenspaces, new collaborative learning spaces, library, and an Indigenous Learning Centre.
