The Goldring Student Centre at Victoria University, at the University of Toronto, is a renovation and expansion of the existing 1952 Student Union building known as Wymilwood, a historically listed building by Eric Arthur. Designed to LEED Silver, the new Student Centre doubles the size of the original building and introduces contemporary and accessible, indoor and outdoor student and administrative spaces.
Formal spaces include the offices of the Dean of Students, Student President and Governing Council, Alumni Affairs, and other governing bodies. A variety of informal spaces, such as student lounges, study and seminar rooms, as well as outdoor patios and terraces, provide users alternative, less formal study spaces. The building is a home away from home, both for students who live off campus, as well as those in the adjacent residences, where community spaces and amenities are not available.
Located in a uniquely rich architectural precinct of Toronto, the site is distinguished by a collection of heritage and modern buildings. The design considers the context first and prioritizes the relationship between open space and buildings that characterize Victoria University. The primary spaces overlook the new quad, the heart of the project, was made possible by the relocation of an access road that previously ran through the site. This allowed the design team to introduce a new green space that connects the building to nature and to the adjacent student residence. The porous, welcoming and animated ground plane reinforces pedestrian routes through the campus, and lures students into the building’s exceptional interior and exterior spaces.
