MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE
Jana Stojanovska—Association of Architectural Technologists of Ontario Award
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Jana Stojanovska—Association of Architectural Technologists of Ontario Award
About the Award
For an undergraduate student who has completed 4th year in the Architecture, Building Science, or Project Management Option of the Bachelor of the Architectural Science degree program.
City as School, School as City.
The New City Alternative High School in Dufferin Grove adheres to the idea of “City as School, School as City” by creating a network of interconnected places that involve the community, staff, and students. The city school offers a new curriculum by combining alternative and traditional programmes, mirrored in the symbolic use of materiality and adaptable programming spaces, in response to the outdated pedagogy of education.
The form of the building was influenced by patterns of the site and by carving out a central mass to connect the old historical Dufferin Grove on the east with the new developing and dense side on the west. The atrium, being the heart of the project, carries the architectural idea, which is reflected in the rest of the building as smaller moments, denoted by materiality.
The public realm of the alternative school is composed of the atrium with its arms extending outward to connect to the site on the ground floor. The upper storeys bleeding into the atrium remain private, yet still visually connected to the atrium to borrow light. The learning commons open up to the park, creating an indoor outdoor learning environment. Vertical louvers in the atrium that act as a passive shading system while preserving the east-west transparency. This area has adequate lighting throughout the day without being subjected to strong or uncomfortable solar glare due to a skylight system that is protected by additional roof louvers.
The roof is made up of a series of aluminum panels that are supported by a network of steel beams with an embedded track lighting system. The same principles are applied in the school’s programmed educational spaces as well. A perforated metal screen that covers the windows to the classrooms and other learning spaces diffuses natural light so that it can illuminate these places. In addition to its effects on natural light, this facade’s materiality and construction emphasize the link between indoors and out and soften the line separating the structure from the outside world.
The main atrium of the school was designed with biophilic concepts in mind, thus mass timber and CLT was used for the framework to allow natural elements and architectural typologies to permeate the interior. The intermediate floor envelope drawing to the left shows the exposed wood, allowing occupants to interact with the architecture. Built-in benches lines the perimeter windows and columns, creating small seating pockets within the bays of the building. The HVAC system in the atrium is concealed by using the steel lungs of the school to force air into the space from the sides. Heated concrete floors with a polished finish keep the area warm without the need for heating equipment. This creates a minimalist look with only the focus on materiality and tectonics. While the aluminum louvers create privacy from the busy street without compromising view and light, they also provide a sense of enclosure and protection for students. Therefore, the wooden heart remains protected by the aluminum facade.
Image Captions
In Gratitude
As the recipient of the Association of Architectural Technologists of Ontario Award, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the tremendous support that you have provided me through this award. As a Co-op student at DAS, I have dedicated my studies to subjects such as technology integration, envelope design, and innovative architectural concepts. This scholarship has provided me invaluable support, enabling me to maintain unwavering focus on my academic pursuits, research endeavors, and professional growth. As I approach the successful completion of my degree the upcoming academic year, I am eager to continue my architectural work with newfound enthusiasm and dedication, and I thank you once again for your invaluable support.
For an undergraduate student who has completed 4th year in the Architecture, Building Science, or Project Management Option of the Bachelor of the Architectural Science degree program.
City as School, School as City.
The New City Alternative High School in Dufferin Grove adheres to the idea of “City as School, School as City” by creating a network of interconnected places that involve the community, staff, and students. The city school offers a new curriculum by combining alternative and traditional programmes, mirrored in the symbolic use of materiality and adaptable programming spaces, in response to the outdated pedagogy of education.
The form of the building was influenced by patterns of the site and by carving out a central mass to connect the old historical Dufferin Grove on the east with the new developing and dense side on the west. The atrium, being the heart of the project, carries the architectural idea, which is reflected in the rest of the building as smaller moments, denoted by materiality.
The public realm of the alternative school is composed of the atrium with its arms extending outward to connect to the site on the ground floor. The upper storeys bleeding into the atrium remain private, yet still visually connected to the atrium to borrow light. The learning commons open up to the park, creating an indoor outdoor learning environment. Vertical louvers in the atrium that act as a passive shading system while preserving the east-west transparency. This area has adequate lighting throughout the day without being subjected to strong or uncomfortable solar glare due to a skylight system that is protected by additional roof louvers.
The roof is made up of a series of aluminum panels that are supported by a network of steel beams with an embedded track lighting system. The same principles are applied in the school’s programmed educational spaces as well. A perforated metal screen that covers the windows to the classrooms and other learning spaces diffuses natural light so that it can illuminate these places. In addition to its effects on natural light, this facade’s materiality and construction emphasize the link between indoors and out and soften the line separating the structure from the outside world.
The main atrium of the school was designed with biophilic concepts in mind, thus mass timber and CLT was used for the framework to allow natural elements and architectural typologies to permeate the interior. The intermediate floor envelope drawing to the left shows the exposed wood, allowing occupants to interact with the architecture. Built-in benches lines the perimeter windows and columns, creating small seating pockets within the bays of the building. The HVAC system in the atrium is concealed by using the steel lungs of the school to force air into the space from the sides. Heated concrete floors with a polished finish keep the area warm without the need for heating equipment. This creates a minimalist look with only the focus on materiality and tectonics. While the aluminum louvers create privacy from the busy street without compromising view and light, they also provide a sense of enclosure and protection for students. Therefore, the wooden heart remains protected by the aluminum facade.
Image Captions
- Second floor atrium rendering: carries the idea of wood as a place of socializing and gathering.
- Floating roof rendering: skylight system provides light while aluminum louvers diffuse harsh daylight.
- Exterior rendering: perforated aluminum facade appears as a floating screen from the exterior.
- Intermediate floor axonometric drawing of atrium.
In Gratitude
As the recipient of the Association of Architectural Technologists of Ontario Award, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the tremendous support that you have provided me through this award. As a Co-op student at DAS, I have dedicated my studies to subjects such as technology integration, envelope design, and innovative architectural concepts. This scholarship has provided me invaluable support, enabling me to maintain unwavering focus on my academic pursuits, research endeavors, and professional growth. As I approach the successful completion of my degree the upcoming academic year, I am eager to continue my architectural work with newfound enthusiasm and dedication, and I thank you once again for your invaluable support.
