There has been quite a lot of activity at the site of Ryerson University's ultramodern new Student Learning Centre located on the busy Yonge Street corridor at Gould Street. The location is well-known to many Torontonians as it was once home to the iconic Sam the Record man store and its famous sign, the focus of some recent controversy regarding its reinstallation.

Ryerson Student Learning Centre Entrance, image by drum118

Last time we reported on the project, construction had begun to reveal the building's unique angles as a canted walls and floors progressed up to the Centre's grand entrance. Since then, construction work has reached the fourth level of this exciting new 8-storey development designed by the renowned Norwegian/American architectural firm Snøhetta Design and local A-listers Zeidler Partnership Architects. 

Bird's eye view of Ryerson Student Centre, image by drum118

We can now see the interesting shapes of the Student Learning Centre's unique floorplates thanks to Forum member drum118's shots from above. According to Ryerson University, each of these floors will have its own personality, from open and interpretive spaces to more intimate enclosures for independent and group study. The complex will also be connected by a bridge to the existing library building, and while that bridge has not been built yet, construction of the entrance from the library has been completed. 

Construction progresses to 4th level of Ryerson's SLC, image by drum 118

When the Centre opens in late 2014, the 155,463 square foot structure will surely become Ryerson's leading landmark, and one of Yonge Street's boldest buildings as well. The Student Learning Centre's diagonal and luminous nature will provide a sharp contrast to the boxy brutalist-era fortress architecture of Ryerson's library building just next door.

Ryerson Student Learning Centre site view looking Northwest, image by androiduk

Stay tuned to UrbanToronto as we continue to follow the progress of this development. For more information, including building facts and renderings, check out our dataBase file, linked below. To join in on the conversation, choose the project's associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.