FACILITY DESIGN
COME TO LIGHT With its bright silhouette and bold wayfinding graphics, the new student commons at Niagara College Canada energizes, connects and updates its decades-old surroundings. BY REBECCA MELNYK
I
t’s a feast of light at Niagara Welland Commons. Crafted into a mix of interconnected brick buildings circa 1970, its modern glass facade glows from across the campus at night and brings natural light into the space by day. Situated on the Welland campus of Niagara College Canada, a rural community college focused on applied arts and technology, the two-storey hub was completed this year at a total cost of $15 million. Currently, the building is partially open to students and staff. Some furniture has been removed to allow for social distancing. The 33,000-squarefoot addition brings new classrooms, a welcome centre, a retail space and a student activity room. Tucked-away areas bring rest and collaboration. A food court serves a 450-seat cafeteria that transforms into event space for large culinary gatherings or faculty speeches. Commissioned to give students a
dedicated space to eat, socialize, study and lounge, the Gow Hastings Architects’ design commands a bold presence that is both playful and functional. Outside, large-scale perforated metal panels mark the new northfacing entrance and stand parallel to a parade of columns that light up the way. The metal screen carries through the space as a wayfinding element—hinting at what else lies inside. Like many campuses, rather than walk from building to building through a connected exter ior, students travel through a labyrinth of existing buildings. Bright colours and patterns work as visual cues to guide people into the much taller space with ceilings 30 feet high. “There are numerous, small interconnected corridors with ceilings eight-feet high , and if you’re a first time visitor to the campus, these are really hard to neOctober 2020 CFM&D 15
