Ryerson Student Learning Centre
341 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario
Type: New construction
Size: 155,000 sf
Project Cost: $112 million
Development Partners:
- Ryerson University
- Government of Ontario
Status: Opened in 2015
Description
The Ryerson Student Learning Centre is an eight-storey building with a student capacity of 2300 which includes a restaurant, library, student services, study spaces, plus retail at street level. It feature an elevated plaza, a bridge to the existing Ryerson library and a range of academic, study and collaborative spaces for students, faculty and staff. The Yonge Street frontage features retail at grade and below grade, creating a prominent commer- cial façade which anchors the building along Yonge cing the vision of blending retail and education space together.
Complexity / Collaboration
Ryerson had been interested in the corner of Yonge and Gould for years. Sheldon Levy, then Ryerson president, approached the owner of the Sam the Record Man store, who liked the idea of having Ryerson own the property but had signed it over to his sons and nieces. With slow negotiations, Ryerson asked the provincial government to explore expropriation. Ultimately the site owners agreed to sell the site for $23 million. In January 2008 Ryerson acquired three properties on Yonge Street, including the former Sam the Record Man and World of Posters to construct the Student Learning Centre.
User Interaction/Partnership Framework
The building contains student space for individuals or group study and collaboration on multiple floors. Students rearrange the furniture to suit their needs. The project fits with Ryerson’s vision to integrate the university’s campus with the city’s urban fabric. The building contributes to retail and pedestrian life and for ongoing revitalization in the neighbourhood. An entry plaza draws students and the general public into a vertical community.
Costs / Funding
The Government of Ontario invested $45 million as a Capital Support Program from Infrastructure Ontario. Ryerson raised $22 million in fundraising and $45 million came from internal sources.
Questions?
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