AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
A front door on Church would have made no sense given the usage patterns of the campus.
AoD
Toronto Ryerson Student Learning Centre | 50.59m | 8s | Ryerson University | Zeidler
- Thread starter Bogtrotter
- Start date
A front door on Church would have made no sense given the usage patterns of the campus.
AoD
typezed
Active Member
The business school at Dundas and Bay has little presence for Ryerson, as the outward expression of the building is dominated by the Canadian Tire and Best Buy. Even though the Ryerson participation in Maple Leaf Gardens continues that building's sporting tradition it is probably now more identified as a Loblaws. Same dynamic with 10 Dundas, where the commercial uses overwhelm. So with this building maybe the commercial is being made subordinate to the institutional purpose of the development. I haven't seen this building up close at this near completion stage, but I like the solution along Yonge. It's an interesting transistion from a bold institutional structure to the scale and purpose of the neighbouring heritage retail buildings.
I thought the reason that everyone calls for retail in new developments was that retail brings traffic and vibrancy to the street. The design and uses of this building should bring its own vibrancy of student life. Retail is good but it was mostly hardscrabble in this neighbourhood and any upscaling will only bring the same branded concerns found at Yorkdale, Sherway and Square One. No reason that should take precedence over Ryerson serving its students and claiming its important presence in the area.
I thought the reason that everyone calls for retail in new developments was that retail brings traffic and vibrancy to the street. The design and uses of this building should bring its own vibrancy of student life. Retail is good but it was mostly hardscrabble in this neighbourhood and any upscaling will only bring the same branded concerns found at Yorkdale, Sherway and Square One. No reason that should take precedence over Ryerson serving its students and claiming its important presence in the area.
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agoraflaneur
Active Member
I wouldn't support the unraveling of retail in virtually any other situation, but Yonge's character is greatly enhanced through the conjunction of commercial and intellectual space. The stairs will not be "institutional" in the sense of a hospital or court; instead, youth thinking and socializing will mix with shoppers, improving, not detracting from, the dynamic of Yonge.
It will do the same for Ryerson, and by extension Toronto's educational culture. The ancient idea of scholastic separation that dominated early thinking about higher education is now modified for the 21st century: instead of the isolation of campus from city - supposedly giving the learner intellectual distance from (potentially corrupt) society - the educational institution is joined with the city. It is the physical embodiment of Ryerson's goal to connect with the city through its educational offerings.
With campuses like UofT's Mississauga and Scarborogh and York, Toronto needs something to connect the two worlds. UofT downtown sort of does it with College St., but you can see the old idea of separation at work almost everywhere else.
It will do the same for Ryerson, and by extension Toronto's educational culture. The ancient idea of scholastic separation that dominated early thinking about higher education is now modified for the 21st century: instead of the isolation of campus from city - supposedly giving the learner intellectual distance from (potentially corrupt) society - the educational institution is joined with the city. It is the physical embodiment of Ryerson's goal to connect with the city through its educational offerings.
With campuses like UofT's Mississauga and Scarborogh and York, Toronto needs something to connect the two worlds. UofT downtown sort of does it with College St., but you can see the old idea of separation at work almost everywhere else.
AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
I would say U of T still functions on the model of separation along College, considering the difference in urban form and street engagement (just think the ceremonial gateway at King's College Road and College). In fact one can argue the boundary is breaking down partly due to the campus creeping southward (old TDSB HQ, examination site, the upcoming private res).
AoD
agoraflaneur
Active Member
Totally agree AoD; "sort of" was my clumsy way of saying that. The buildings are just sort of "there" - they generally don't engage the street. None of the landscaping attempts to create public space. It acts rather as a kind of border or fence of hedges. The bookstore might be the worst offender to me with its cheesy high school football sign perched along College. The CAMH building at Spadina has its own issues as well. I very much look forward to seeing the effect of the new Architecture building for Spadina and the general direction the university is going in as well as the expansion across College that you mentioned.
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Tuscani01
Senior Member
A lot of people are missing the fact that this project is also giving us a new public space. The right side of the steps appear to be set up as seating. (double height steps). This will be an amazing place to sit and people watch during the warmer months. New (quasi-)public space beats any retail in my opinion.
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UD2
Active Member
as much as the entrance may work well for its intended purpose, I'm hoping that it wouldn't be taken over as the smoker's haven like many modernist entry way overhangs often become.
gabe
Senior Member
You're not alone, the street-level is terrible. It looks like a giant cube was plopped in the middle of the busiest street in Canada.
Tewder
Senior Member
The new public space at the corner is irrelevant. I actually like it too. This space would be equally successful however, and perhaps even more so, if they had delivered on the mandate of preserving the flow and integrity of retail along Yonge, instead of diluting it even further.
As for blending town and gown here, well maybe there's a reason for the separation to start with. Retail benefits from other retail, it's an issue of critical mass. It's why there is no branch of NYU or Columbia in Times Square (probably not the main reason but you get my point). On the flip side, students need space. They need to congregate and spend long periods of time together, and not for retail purposes (in fact they are notorious for taking up space and spending little money). Developing public spaces within Ryerson's precinct, and growing east towards Church would serve students better for this purpose.
G.L.17
Senior Member
Tewder
Senior Member
Wish i had the contract to sell Windex to them.
Towered
Superstar
A Starbucks here is a joke. There's one in 10 Dundas East a 2 minute walk away, then there are ones in the Eaton Centre (inside and out), 2 more just west of Bay on Dundas, and another one at Elm and University. There might even be more in the area that aren't coming to mind at the moment.
iMiiTH
New Member
That does nothing to prevent crime, it only makes it easier to punish it. Unless you're suggesting make them extremely visible and prominent, which in that case that won't help either because it will feel like some kind of police state.
When I said safe, I meant that when an area is well lit, it's perceived as a safer area than if it were pitch black. (especially with the sketchy looking Victoria Ln right beside it.)
iMiiTH
New Member
The below grade portion is most likely a temporary arrangement. The Theatre School was looking for a new temporary building because their current one is falling apart. I feel like they're taking that space, which will be temporary (the school wants those leases for money).
innsertnamehere
Superstar
none of which are really convenient for anyone who wants to grab something between classes. The Starbucks isn't going to be using the retail level, its going to be in the lobby of the building.