OSHAWA, Canada—Sundials have helped people tell the time of day for centuries, and now, inspired by that very concept, Montgomery Sisam Architects has designed a new building at Ontario Tech University that “revolves” around the idea of solar orientation.

Accordingly, the new General Academic and Student Building has been designed such that light plays off of the structure in unique ways throughout the day—throwing various shadows as the sun arcs across the sky. Montgomery Sisam utilized concrete cladding, whose four different types of shaped panels create what the firm calls a “playful” dance between shadow and light. It is also meant to evoke the dichotomy of mass and weightlessness considering that solid mass gives off a non-physical shade.

“Architecturally, this building is quite interesting. For the design, we were very inspired by the idea of creating a physical manifestation of a sundial,” Daniel Ling, principal architect with Montgomery Sisam Architects, said to ĐÓ°ÉÔ­°ćŇ•îl. “To develop this unique design intent, we studied how the sun travels throughout the building. We then turned to shaped concrete panels…so the perspective shifts and changes as the solar orientation does throughout the course of the day.”

The 80,000-square-foot building will offer classrooms as well as administrative and social spaces, with the latest technological innovations offered throughout the facility. The architect’s plans ensure that a decent amount of natural light would enter into the building.

Levels 1 and 2 will be home to the student union, lounge and study spaces—all of which are arranged around an open atrium so as to encourage interaction. A staircase allows these areas to be connected seamlessly to the lower-level conference center and student club area. Levels 3, 4 and 5 are designed to be more private as they host classrooms, administration offices and various other functions that require less intrusive noises.

“We also focused on creating spaces where students could come together, whether that is gravitating towards the building from other spaces on campus, or through the connectedness that the interior space was designed to foster,” Ling added. “Spatially, this is reflected in that the lower level connects with the multi-story space that enables light to travel easily throughout the entire building. Distinct yet complementary materials—concrete, metal, wood, and stone—also offer a unique expression and tactile quality that is at the same time sympathetic to the existing campus fabric.”

Montgomery Sisam, based in Toronto, worked in joint venture with Architecture Counsel, and on the design-build contract with general contractor Eastern Construction, whose home offices are located in Scarborough, Ontario.

“Ultimately, we hope the new General Academic and Student Building at the Ontario Tech University space can act as a center of gravity for student life on campus,” concluded Ling.

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MISSISSAUGA, Canada—The Hazel McCallion Campus of Sheridan College will be expanding to include a new center of activity for students. The Sheridan College Hazel McCallion Campus Student Life and Athletics Hub is being jointly designed by Montgomery Sisam Architects in conjunction with Moriyama & Teshima Architects, both of whom are located in Toronto.

The 70,000-square-foot complex will entail recreational and food service areas as well as places for students to sit and interact. Among its amenities will be a multilevel “floating” running track that runs the interior perimeter of the building and is visible both from the inside and outside. There will also be spaces for students to lounge, game areas and a modern fitness facility. All of those spaces will be connected via a double-height atrium.

In addition, a glass-clad exterior will permit more natural light to permeate the interior of the building, as well as allow for students to have better views of the outside while dining or engaging in physical activity.

In a statement sent to SCN, Daniel Ling, principal at Montgomery Sisam Architects, said that the design goal, developed in concert with Moriyama & Teshima Architects, was to make the new structure flow into the overarching architectural motif already present at the Hazel McCallion Campus.

“The new campus hub we’ve designed provides a space for students to experience campus life beyond the borders of the classroom,” Ling said. “It’s a destination for health and wellness, a place to socialize, a place to spend quiet study time, or to engage in boisterous play. That’s why it was so important for us to work collaboratively with the Student Union on the building’s programming, as we wanted to create spaces that students would gravitate to.”

Ling said that the building’s exterior was purposely designed to respond to “solar orientation,” meaning that as much natural light as possible would be allowed inside, and thus foster unique interplays between light and shadow throughout the days—and changing with the seasons.

“You get a brief glimpse of the interior experience through the exterior, but when you step inside, a rich experience unfolds—one that is centered around bright and colorful elements,” he said. “Through the usage of bright colors in the interior, we help to express the diversity of the students and student experience, and the diversity of the rich spatial expression.”

Furthermore, the visitor experience of the new building changes depending on where he or she traverses within the building itself. Accordingly, the views of the interior shift as you transition from the floor level and on up to the elevated running track and rooftop terrace, providing what Ling described as an “interesting narrative of the surrounding city context thanks to an abundance of windows.”

“The natural lighting and transparency of the building also helps to create a greater sense of connection,” Ling said. “In addition, because this is a commuter campus, we set out to design a place that would make students want to spend more time on campus.

“We are proud to have been able to create a new hub that contributes to an added sense of community on campus.”

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