Supporting Indigenous ways of connecting, teaching and being.
The Solution
The building’s experience begins with the landscaping. Native
plantings surround and complement the building, providing it and
its occupants an ecological sense of place. From there, the orientation
of the structure aligns with the cardinal directions, situating the
building and traffic within it to flow from the east entrance with
the sunrise, westward to the sunset. It also connects back to the
land outside by providing outdoor spaces that mirror the indoor
space. Stadium seating inside is mirrored inside and out providing
opportunities for students to learn, connect and gather through all
four seasons. Honoring the planet, Centennial’s A-Building is the
first mass timber, net-zero, WELL certified, LEED Gold Academic
institution in Canada The interior design inspiration draws upon
the materiality of surrounding region. Patterns found in traditional
quillwork, beadwork and drum lacings, and those seen in nature like
fish and snake scales are reflected in architectural elements inside the
space like textured walls, ceiling baffles and signage. Additionally, red
– a significant color in Indigenous practice that speaks to knowledge
– is also incorporated as accent colors on furniture and in the tiles on
the walls. The heart of the building is its ceremonial space, or Basket
Room. Circular, with walls wrapped in a wood finish that reflects the
geometric patterns on the outside of the building, it provides space
for gathering and connection.
Throughout the space, active collaboration areas provide opportunities
for students to connect, study, or have a quiet moment of respite. A
range of soft seating and community tables – at seated and counter
height – support ways to connect in comfort. The use of natural
materials is carried beyond the timber structure into furniture choices
like lounge chairs with wood arms and tables with wood legs in a
natural finish. Office areas are modeled on the shape and activity
patterns of a Haudenosaunee longhouse, a traditional Indigenous
structure used by people of this region. Focused activity is supported
along the sides of the space via workstations with height-adjustable
desks and task seating, while private offices and informal meeting
areas can be found in the centre. Ultimately the goal was to create a
range of places for people to work where they’re comfortable and feel
included. Says Eladia Smoke, Lead Architect of Smoke Architecture,
“This space is a demonstration of how strong a place can be when
narratives from this land are brought through into an actual place.”
Concludes Henri Dekker, Leader, Strategic Facilities Planning and
Operations, Centennial College, “When students came into the
building, they immediately took it over. They felt at home and
comfortable right from the start – which is a true sign of the project’s
success. We will take these learnings as the benchmark for what we do
in the future across our other four campuses.”