Blog

March 21, 2017

Project Blog – OCAD U Creative City Campus

I am always excited to bid a project, and even more excited when we win a project, but one recently stood out for me personally – OCAD U’s Creative City Campus.  When we got our first request from an architect to join their team, my interest was piqued.  Having attended OCAD myself back in the day, OCAD has maintained a special interest for me.  While at this point, I’ve studied at several of the post secondary institutions CFMS has worked at, either for undergrad or continuing education studies, it seems OCAD left the biggest impression on me (no offense, York University, Toronto Metropolitan University, or George Brown College!).

Back when I attended, the Ontario College of Art had just added its ‘D’ for Design, newly dubbing it OCAD.  At that time, it was a relatively small school – coming from York U it sure seemed small anyway!  Yet it was bursting with creative and engaged students and professors.  It had already come along way in growth, having started rather humbly back in 1876, with only 14 students.  Since my time there, the famous Toronto landmark “The Sharp Centre for Design” was added, and the status of the school was upgraded to a University.

And now the growth and advancement continues, with the “Creative City Campus” project, modernizing existing space (95,000 square feet) and adding new space (55,000 square feet).  OCAD is now recognized as Canada’s largest art, design and media university, so certainly seems due for an upgrade!  Located next to the Art Gallery of Ontario and Frank Gehry’s renowned transformation of said AGO, it will be nice to see the area a show case for the arts and design hub it is.  For me it felt an interesting privilege getting to put in a proposal for the Creative City Campus, as I felt as though I got a sneak peak of what was to come, having the opportunity to bid with several outstanding architects.  No doubt now that it was awarded to Teeple, in partnership with Morphosis and Two Row Architects, OCAD is its environs are in for a treat!  OCAD University’s core values of sustainability, diversity, inclusivity, indigeneity, invention, entrepreneurship, and heritage are to be priority every step of the way.

CFMS Consulting Inc. was very happy to be awarded the commissioning, but I personally am extra excited, to be part of the Creative City Campus project, and look forward to the progression of the project, and seeing the results when the project achieves completion in the 2020/21 academic year.

Why Commissioning