Ryerson selects architects Perkins+Will to design Church Street Development

TORONTO, Sept. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - President Sheldon Levy today announced the selection of  Perkins+Will as the architects for Ryerson University's Church Street Development at 300 Church Street, just north of Dundas.

"We are very pleased that this internationally acclaimed firm will design Ryerson's new Church Street Development," said Levy. "This building will be a touchstone for the ongoing revitalization of Church Street, bringing pedestrian energy and activity to this important area of our campus and the city."

The Church Street Development (CSD) will house the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, the School of Nutrition, the School of Occupational & Public Health and the Midwifery Education Program from the Faculty of Community Services, and a student residence.

"The Ryerson Church Street Development offers Perkins+Will's Canadian practice an incredible opportunity to collaborate with a visionary client group in transforming the very definition of what a campus is," said Andrew Frontini, Design Director, Perkins+Will.  "We imagine an architecture that will inspire collaboration through the application of progressive urbanism and advanced green thinking in the design of the new Church Street Development. This will provide a new framework for understanding the health of the individual in society, and promote the health of the campus, the city and the natural systems that support all of us."

Perkins+Will is a leading architecture practice known for award-winning design excellence, comprehensive expertise and innovative projects. Over the past 20 years, they have worked with more than 250 colleges and universities across Canada and around the world.  The Ontario and Vancouver practices of Perkins+Will are working together on the Church Street Development project, bringing their shared expertise and commitment to sustainable technology and innovative design.

"A postsecondary education continues to be one of the most important investments people can make in themselves and their future," said Brad Duguid, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. "The Church Street Development will help Ryerson University ensure Ontario's students have access to innovative and green classrooms, labs and study space that will benefit them and future students for years to come."

The ground floor of the CSD will enhance the streetscape and bring the energy and enthusiasm of thousands of Ryerson students to Church Street. The floors above will have classrooms, meeting rooms, state-of-the art clinical experience suites, and shared teaching labs, clinical skills labs and modular labs for research initiatives. Students will also have dedicated spaces for formal and informal study, course union office areas, clinical skills practice and lounge areas.

To help address the need for more residence space and to optimize density on the site, the building plans include approximately 250 student residence spaces in keeping with the university's goal to provide an additional 2,000 new residence spaces by 2020.  Ryerson is actively seeking a private sector organization to partner with to develop the residence portion of the project.

"The Church Street Development will exemplify the three principles of Ryerson's Master Plan: urban intensity, pedestrian orientation and design excellence," said Julia Hanigsberg, Vice President, Administration and Finance, Ryerson University. "The project will reflect Ryerson's commitment to sustainability by building on the University's role as a leader and innovator in this sector articulating our vision for sustainability at the University and beyond."

The estimated cost of the academic portion of the project is $84 million, of which the Ontario government has provided a $56.4 million grant. Construction is expected to begin later in 2015 with the building completed by fall 2018.

Note to Photo Editors: An on-line photo gallery of notable and acclaimed Perkins + Will projects is available http://ryerson.ca/news/media/spotlight/20130904_perkins-will

Established in 1935, Perkins+Will is a global interdisciplinary architecture and design firm founded on the belief that design has the power to transform lives and enhance society. With a staff of 1,500 in 23 locations worldwide, the firm serves clients across a broad range of project types and grounds its work in deep research. Perkins+Will ranks among the world's top design firms and is the recipient of hundreds of awards. Social responsibility is fundamental to the firm's outlook, work, and culture, and every year Perkins+Will donates one percent of its design services to non-profit organizations. With pioneering tools to advance sustainable design practices, the largest green building portfolio in North America, nearly 1,000 LEED® Accredited Professionals, and a commitment to the 2030 Challenge, Perkins+Will is recognized as one of the industry's preeminent sustainable design firms. For more information, visit www.perkinswill.com.

Ryerson University is Canada's leader in innovative, career-oriented education and a university clearly on the move. With a mission to serve societal need, and a long-standing commitment to engaging its community, Ryerson offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs. Distinctly urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, the university is home to more than 38,000 students, including 2,300 master's and PhD students, nearly 2,700 faculty and staff, and more than 140,000 alumni worldwide. Research at Ryerson is on a trajectory of success and growth: externally funded research has doubled in the past four years. The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is Canada's leading provider of university-based adult education. For more information, visit www.ryerson.ca

SOURCE: Ryerson University

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