Ryerson: Master Plan

[Tuscani01]

ok. the idea we had was that we should focus on areas of ryerson that are the most problematic right now in terms of how they connect to the students and the city.

we chose 4 areas...

1. Gould/Yonge connection
2. Gould/Jarvis connection
3. Victoria Lane area
4. Quad and Lake Devo area

the gould/yonge intersection was chosen as the most important as it is the main gateway to ryerson from the city. with the future buyout of sams and futureshop, we decided to take it over and build a multi-use building with a walkway underneath which includes some shops and the entrance to the dundas subway platform from the north end. a transparent glass wall will bring in light to the high open space as people come outside from the subway.

the 2nd area was to provide an entrance to ryerson from jarvis and to create a ryerson presence on that street. right now the ILC building is the only building there which blocks the entrance way to gould. we proposed to extend gould by making a pedestrian walkway where the existing building is now and to create high density student housing. this tower will also be a strong symbol that people will see from yonge and bring them into the campus.

victoria lane and that whole area where the podium is was the 3rd area we chose. this area is quite dead and to put life back on the street we proposed to connect it to gerrard through some small retail facilities. jorgenson, the podium, and the existing library would be rebuilt into more modern facilities.

the last area we chose was the kerr hall area. we followed KPMB's plan which demolishes the whole quad. again, creating shops and social spaces for students to use will bring people to gould because it gives them something to do throughout the whole year and not just during the school year. so by opening up the southwest corner of kerr hall, we give people the oppoutunity to go in and experience the green quad area that is now hidden from view.

just a few comments...this project was always changing somehow due to the group not agreeing on certain things. the group had 5 people which was just too many for this project imo. some of the things proposed were changed last minute without consulting the other group members so i gotta say that it turned out a bit worse because of it. the design of the poster was also changed and makes the information provided ineffective and not in sequence. so please be kind with your critiques

lol, when you said bad I was expecting something horrible. Its not all that bad. Connecting Gould to Jarvis is something I havn't heard yet but it would be a good idea especially if we get some space in 222 Jarvis St.

By the way... nice title!

 

[RedRocket191]

ok. the idea we had was that we should focus on areas of ryerson that are the most problematic right now in terms of how they connect to the students and the city.

we chose 4 areas...

1. Gould/Yonge connection
2. Gould/Jarvis connection
3. Victoria Lane area
4. Quad and Lake Devo area

the gould/yonge intersection was chosen as the most important as it is the main gateway to ryerson from the city. with the future buyout of sams and futureshop, we decided to take it over and build a multi-use building with a walkway underneath which includes some shops and the entrance to the dundas subway platform from the north end. a transparent glass wall will bring in light to the high open space as people come outside from the subway.

the 2nd area was to provide an entrance to ryerson from jarvis and to create a ryerson presence on that street. right now the ILC building is the only building there which blocks the entrance way to gould. we proposed to extend gould by making a pedestrian walkway where the existing building is now and to create high density student housing. this tower will also be a strong symbol that people will see from yonge and bring them into the campus.

victoria lane and that whole area where the podium is was the 3rd area we chose. this area is quite dead and to put life back on the street we proposed to connect it to gerrard through some small retail facilities. jorgenson, the podium, and the existing library would be rebuilt into more modern facilities.

the last area we chose was the kerr hall area. we followed KPMB's plan which demolishes the whole quad. again, creating shops and social spaces for students to use will bring people to gould because it gives them something to do throughout the whole year and not just during the school year. so by opening up the southwest corner of kerr hall, we give people the oppoutunity to go in and experience the green quad area that is now hidden from view.

just a few comments...this project was always changing somehow due to the group not agreeing on certain things. the group had 5 people which was just too many for this project imo. some of the things proposed were changed last minute without consulting the other group members so i gotta say that it turned out a bit worse because of it. the design of the poster was also changed and makes the information provided ineffective and not in sequence. so please be kind with your critiques

Kudos!

 

[urbanvillageboy]

ryerson master plan

Gee whiz, urbanvillageboy, you're a Sunday painter urbanist to the max. I guess that's what these here Interweb message boards are designed to accomodate...these twerps with provincial-in-the-guise-of-sophisticated solutions to our provincialism...

I'm glad to have the opportunity to state my opinions on your message board and I'm glad to debate whatever the issue might be but I thought we could all do so without risking being insulted in this way. And you're a senior member and should know better. I've obviously touched a nerve somewhere, but that's for you to figure out. In the meanwhile, please let us discuss things without getting personal.

 

[alklay]

I'm glad to have the opportunity to state my opinions on your message board and I'm glad to debate whatever the issue might be but I thought we could all do so without risking being insulted in this way. And you're a senior member and should know better. I've obviously touched a nerve somewhere, but that's for you to figure out. In the meanwhile, please let us discuss things without getting personal.

I agree, the personal attack was way over the line and was uncalled for.

There is certainly nothing wrong with complaining about the present state of many parts of Yonge Street and calling for improvements. 'Bulldozing it' was not meant to be taken literally and any call for improvements does not mean lifeless condo bases.

 

[Jarrek]

I don't see the point in partially demolishing Kerr hall to create a social square? Just close the streets off and you accomplish virtually the same thing.

To me, Kerr Hall and the clock tower, are the most recognized buildings when I think of Ryerson.

 

[smuncky]

I don't see the point in partially demolishing Kerr hall to create a social square? Just close the streets off and you accomplish virtually the same thing.

To me, Kerr Hall and the clock tower, are the most recognized buildings when I think of Ryerson.

kerr hall will be totally replaced by a new building.

 

[smuncky]

well we just finished another project that had to do with ryerson and it's presence in the city. this project, unlike the last one, had to do with the urban analysis of the greater ryerson area.

here is the project brief...

OBJECTIVES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
.1 To study the historical character, function and development of the Greater Ryerson Area (GRA), which is defined by the formal boundaries/properties of Ryerson University AND the immediate neighbourhood affected by Ryerson University’s physical and economic presence; and to develop a new generation of thinking about the city and its relationship to surrounding streets, urban open spaces, districts and activity nodes.
.2 To identify an urban design related space/place, building (existing or imagined), or issue within the boundaries of the GRA; and to develop ideas/projects that might address the future growth/development of the GRA.
.3 To develop written and graphical communication skills as part of the architectural response.

The range of analysis might include (but not limited to):
• historical development and context
• zoning and land use patterns
• environmental analysis
• demographics and economics
• pedestrian circulation and vehicular traffic patterns
• urban design and street furnishings
• building mass and urban open spaces
Based on the analysis, students are to propose appropriate urban responses to the issues identified in the analysis. The range of responses might include (but not limited to) a design for:
• a particular natural land feature (e.g. ravine)
• environment restoration
• historical restoration
• streetscaping (hard and soft landscaping)
• traffic (vehicular and pedestrian) patterns
• a park, green corridor or other public open space
• a specific building, or grouping of buildings, anywhere within the precinct
• adaptive reuse of an existing building or grouping of buildings
• a piece of infrastructure (e.g. a bridge)
• proposed or existing roadways
• public art specific to the Greater Ryerson Area
• a public space or facility related to education/research, tourism, commerce or culture
Students are also required to identify under-developed sites within the Greater Ryerson Area that may be suitable for acquisition by Ryerson University, for the future growth of Ryerson University campus.

we had less than a month to do this. if you guys want to read some of the analysis or just check out the booklet, it's uploaded here

we also had to make a 60 second video to summarize our project.


there's a lot of info, but it's quite good espeically if you're interested in that area. enjoy! comments are appreciated!

 

[ShonTron]

I'm not one who would like to get rid of Kerr Hall in its totality. I've had thoughts about it, and would not mind demolishing parts of it (say the NE corner of it at Gerrard and Church) for intensification, and I really don't like the blank walls on the Victoria and Church sides where it turns its back, even without proper entrances. I would especially like to keep the part that's the terminus for Bond Street - the one with the friezes and the clock tower.

More than anything, I would like to see the quad kept as is, as a quiet, pleasant courtyard, though improving access to it and selective redevelopment of Kerr Hall (especially the Gerrard side) wouldn't bother me. Jorgenson should be the priority for demolition!

 

[Tuscani01]

Another Ryerson Update:

The Black Star collection gallery is facing challenges. The city owns the property which Ryerson wants to build part of it on (The space between Lake Devo and the Image Arts building. The new entrance would be in that spot along with a cafe (Starbucks or Second Cup are mentioned in the Eye Opener). Sounds pretty cool, hopefully the city and Ryerson work out a deal. It would be nice to have a cafe right on Lake Devo.

 

[smuncky]

so thats the area where the current changeroom hut is for the skating rink?

 

[Tuscani01]

so thats the area where the current changeroom hut is for the skating rink?

correct.

 

[Patriot]

Is Ryerson buying Sam's and the old Future Shop or what?
What's taking so long?

 

[Tuscani01]

Is Ryerson buying Sam's and the old Future Shop or what?
What's taking so long?

Ryerson has sent a request for expropriation of Sam the Record Man. There is no word of a Future Shop purchase. There is some talk between Ryerson and the Province for space in the Sears head office building on Jarvis though!

 

[Tuscani01]

Yet another update:

Levy has told the sports director to be ready for a new hockey arena with basketball courts and classroom space above. The proposed site: The parking lot of the Sears HQ.

^ From todays Ryersonian.

 

[smuncky]

here's the article...

Bringing an arena to campus
President Sheldon Levy has told Ryerson’s acting sports director of the possibility to build a new multi-purpose sports centre on Ryerson’s campus.

The facility will include the university’s own hockey arena, basketball courts and additional classrooms.

According to acting sports director Jean Kennedy, the building is something that will be included in the school’s Master Plan with a projected location as the parking lot of the current Sears Building, south of the International Living and Learning Centre (ILLC).

In a conversation Thursday at a president’s breakfast reception, Levy approached Kennedy with the news.

“The president just took me over and said, ‘over here is where I think I would like the hockey rink to be,’” Kennedy said. “In the Master Plan, they are now thinking about getting a hockey rink and putting above it another basketball gym and then above that classrooms.”

The Sears office building and parking lot is located on 222 Jarvis St., and is currently owned by the Ontario government after Sears Canada made plans to move its headquarters to the Eaton Centre.

Ryerson is currently in talks to purchase the property after local MPP George Smitherman mentioned the province is interested in selling it to Ryerson to alleviate the school’s space difficulties.

“I was just going, ‘wow,’” Kennedy said, recalling the morning when Levy broke the news. “It will be amazing for sports and recreation. It will be just like when the RAC (Recreation and Athletics Centre) came in. We just had the triple gym, the lower gym and the pool, and that was it. And then we opened up a fitness centre and it was Ryerson’s show piece for quite some time.”

Levy downplayed the conversation when questioned by The Ryersonian.

“We don’t own it right now. We tried to acquire it, the province has shown interest in selling it to us,” he said. “But assume we owned it for a moment, the question is whether that site is big enough for an arena and then build above it academic space.”

Levy said a second question would be whether the students would support a referendum to help bring the athletic space to the university.
In 2006, students voted down a proposed increase in mandatory fees for athletic services, 1,574 to 1,058. But this time, if an arena was hanging in the balance, Levy said he thinks it would be different.

“I’ve continued to look at every opportunity we can to increase sports and recreation space on campus,” he said. “Is an ice rink a possibility there? I don’t know. And as I said to Jean, you have to look at every inch.

“This is just a possibility, that’s why I mentioned it,” he added.
Levy did not offer a timeline for when an arena would come to campus, but Kennedy said that the president’s words showed the commitment he has to the department.

“It shows that he’s thinking about sports and recreation. It’s very exciting,” she said.

In a March 8, 2006 speech on the Master Plan, Levy included in his speech that “when opportunities arise, we will work with the City on improving athletic and recreation space.”

A significant proposal within the Master Plan sees the elimination of Kerr Hall West, something that currently houses Ryerson’s main gym facilities. For that plan to ever go forward, new campus courts would have to be built.

Levy said that that plan is a long way from fruition.

“It’s not going to happen in the near future. It’s both way too expensive and we also have no place to put students and faculty (who) would be displaced,” he said. “It’s a part of the Master Plan, but that is something for the next two decades.”