simon-fraser-university: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Designed 1963 with Geoffrey Massey
This was the winning entry in a design competition held in 1963. Only two years later, the University opened to the first 2,000 students.
The firm's role included preparation of the overall master plan for a maximum student population of 18,000; co-ordination of all design work done by other architects and the design, construction documents and construction supervision of the central mall and transportation. Also included in the master plan were- classroom block (including offices), lecture theatres, 500-seat media centre and laboratories, married student and women's residences, water tower and auxiliary structures.
The design concept encourages cross-fertilization of knowledge through proximity and sharing of spaces. Traditional academic facilities were broken down into a few basic types and then reassembled, not into individual enclaves; but into large clusters, allowing for a more efficient use of facilities.
The academic and social nature of the University was expressed in the creation of two large spaces linked by a linear walkway structure, which also gives access to the other components of the University.
This one-building concept provides for incremental expansion which takes place always at the periphery. Extra facilities can be built as needed on a steadily expanding perimeter.
The University located on the top of a small mountain presented a special siting challenge. By spreading the building out and cutting it into the hillsides in terraces, so that the University would hug the summit; building and mountain appear to be part of each other. By extending out in the form of terraces, the edges of the complex dissolve into the land form.
Photo by Simon Scott
