University of Ontario Institute of Technology in Ontario, Canada

July 18, 2010 Category: Education, Public Buildings

University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects located in Ontario, Canada is a bold new initiative in Ontario’s post-secondary education system. As the first chartered university created in the province in 35 years, UOIT is designed as an intellectual and social commons for the 21st century.

Established in 2003 UOIT has been developed to accommodate 6000 students by 2010. The campus Master Plan accommodates 900,000 gsf of academic and research space housed in 9 buildings. The first three phases of this five phase project have been completed and the fourth phase is currently under construction.

The design concept is that of an academic village surrounding a landscaped outdoor quadrangle. The integration of buildings and landscape helps promote chance encounters between students, professors and researchers while enhancing the beauty of the campus. While each academic building establishes a separate identity and address from the perimeter ring road, a connected collegial pedestrian precinct is created by exterior colonnades and indoor walkways fronting onto the interior green campus commons.

A key goal of the Master Plan was to create a sustainable campus that limits energy and resource consumption while providing a supportive and inspiring environment for students. One of the largest geo-thermal fields in North America is located under the landscaped quadrangle. Used to harvest thermal energy from the earth, it provides the basis for an environmentally sustainable heating and cooling system for the buildings on campus.

Additional green technologies employed include green vegetation roofs, low VOC materials, grey-water recycling and a comprehensive storm-water management system to reduce the campus’ impact on an adjacent wetland

University of Ontario Institute of Technology Design by Diamond and Schmitt Architects

University of Ontario Institute of Technology Design Exterior 1

University of Ontario Institute of Technology Design Interior 1

Tags: Academia, Association of American Universities, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, campus Master Plan, Canada, Education, energy, Environment, green technologies, Higher education, Institute of Technology, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, North America, Ontario, Quadrangle, thermal energy, University of Ontario Institute, University of Ontario Institute of Technology