Toronto, ON
The concept design for the Bergeron Centre is fully rooted in the academic mission of the school and translated into a design that is bold, original and iconic. With a University mandate to create a world-class facility, the building was conceptualized as one that is rooted in a “Rock” in the landscape of the campus and yet limitless like a “Cloud”.
Those metaphors were instrumental in the development of the building’s architecture and have subsequently been adopted by the school’s faculty and students when describing it. Particularly notable is the unique façade of the Cloud panels on the upper levels of the building where a scale-less aesthetic of tessellated glass and aluminium panels are unlike any other on campus.
Its shimmering pattern of materials and reflectivity are always changing, much like the students work that will be created within it.
The Bergeron Centre contains 15,700 m2 of floor space on 5 levels rising from the campus to create a “landscape of learning." Containing learning spaces for civil, mechanical and electrical engineering programs, the new building contains a variety of teaching and research labs, workshops, collaborative classrooms, studio spaces and social areas for students and faculty.
This sustainably designed development is LEED Gold Certified and occupies an important south-west position on the York University campus. Its location provides unobstructed and panoramic views towards the City of Toronto and by extension perhaps an even greater emphasis on global citizenship and entrepreneurial leadership.
Client
York University
Size
169,000 sf
Program
Classrooms
Support Space
Informal Learning/Social Spaces
Undergraduate Labs
Research Labs
Faculty Offices
Sustainable Features
LEED Gold
Toronto Green Standard (TGS) Tier 2
Awards
Architectural Merit Awards, Ontario Concrete Awards
Converted to Steel Award of Excellence, Canadian Institute of Steel Construction
Architectural Woodwork Awards, LEED Project, Ontario Chapter Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada
Long List Finalist, Education Category, WAN Awards
Best in BIM, CanBIM Awards
Owners Award, CanBIM Awards
Articles
"The Innovation Campus: Building Better Ideas." Alexandra Lange. New York Times. August 4, 2016. Link
CTV News Toronto. "First glimpse into the newest building at York U." CTV. March 31, 2016. Link
"ZAS wraps a Toronto engineering school in a tessellated metal and glass screen." dezeen. February 2, 2016. Link
"The New Bergeron Centre at York University Used an Algorithm to Create Its Beautiful Design." Nick Mafi. Architectural Digest.December 22, 2015. Link
"New-school: ZAS create non-conformist design for York University." Ali Morris. Wallpaper. December 14, 2015. Link
"Big Changes." Green Building and Sustainable Strategies. December 5, 2015. Link
"Concrete Awards honour achievements." Patricia Williams. Daily Commercial News. December 3, 2015. Link
“Stunning Bergeron Centre a sign of big changes at York.” Derek Flack. blogTO, November 19, 2015. Link
"New building for York University's Lassonde School of Engineering." Canadian Architect. October 29, 2014. Link
“New Engineering Building about to take shape at York University.” York Media Relations, June 17, 2013, Link
“Groundbreaking for new Engineering Building at York University by ZAS Architects + Interiors.” Canadian Architect, June 24, 2013, Link