Laurentian University Student Centre
Gow Hastings Architects + Bélanger Salach Architecture
Custom perforated 2mm weathering steel
Laurentian University offers a picturesque academic setting, surrounded by five lakes, a boreal forest and nature trails. Located in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, the campus is uniquely positioned in proximity to both a major urban centre and an iconic mining industry.
The Student Centre is the first building in Laurentian University’s 57-year history that is funded and operated by students. Providing a mix of social, learning and support spaces, the building leverages a Northern design sensibility to provide a heart and hearth for the Students’ General Association and the student community.
An innovative student consultation process catalyzed student interest and investment in the project. Consultations identified the functional priorities of the study body, including productivity, socialization and a sense of comfort, while revealing thematic objectives for the project, such as community and connection, natural and northern, heart and hearth. This extensive engagement process helped craft a space that was for the students and by the students.
Awards
Architecture MasterPrize 2021
Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) Value of Design Award (VODA) of Excellence 2021
WoodWorks! Northern Ontario Design Award 2021
Architizer A+Awards Finalist - Higher Education & Research Facilities 2021
Photography: Tom Arban