Canadian University Press Releases/Newswire

Source: McMaster University
http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/story.cfm?id=4340

McMaster to unveil design of Main Street entrance

November 8, 2006

Fleisher Ridout Partnership Inc., a Toronto-based landscape architecture firm, has been chosen to redesign the main entrance to McMaster's campus after a year-long design competition.

The university will unveil the design of its Main Street entrance at a reception on Thursday, Nov. 9 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the atrium of the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery.

"With the completion of the construction of the new front entrance roadway in 2005, we decided that a design competition would provide the most creative solutions for a highly visible project that serves as the gateway to our campus," said Linda Axford, university planner.

The successful bid by Fleisher Ridout Partnership Inc. was cited by the jury's report as creating a scheme that "creates a strong gateway into the University," as well as lending itself to the surrounding neighbourhood and community.

Described by the jury as "a modern interpretation of Classical models, the clean, strong shapes and repetitive rhythm of the columns organize the architectural forms and spaces along Main Street and reinforce the campus' edge." The sculptural columns are made of Cor-Ten steel and provide lighting at night as well as an artistic element on campus.

A McMaster Design Competition Steering Committee, aided by professional advisor George Dark from Urban Strategies, Inc., identified the site, the scope of the project, selected a jury and created a design brief.

The role of the Steering Committee was to ensure that the design was conducive to the overall Campus Master Plan and provided the opportunity to raise the profile of the campus.

McMaster is now working with Brad Fleisher and associates to refine the design for the phase one contract.

The first phase of the design will be implemented in the spring/summer of 2007. Further phases, which will include the landscaped areas around two new buildings at the front of the campus, will be implemented after the buildings are complete.