THIRD YEAR UNDERGRADUATE
Zain Malik & Dhruvan Modugula—Canadian Institute of Steel Construction Ontario Region Scholarship
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Zain Malik & Dhruvan Modugula—Canadian Institute of Steel Construction Ontario Region Scholarship
About the Award
Canadian Institute of Steel Construction Ontario Region Scholarship:
This scholarship is intended to provide financial support for a student in recognition of demonstrated exceptional work and design in a project in which steel is used in an innovative manner.
Dhruvan Modugula & Zain Malik
Ouimet Edge is a visionary steel observation deck offering an experiential journey beyond a mere viewpoint. The design is oriented around three interlinked circular platforms that cantilever boldly over Ouimet Canyon, creating spaces that blend the line between conceptual thought and practical application.
The interlocked rings create a continuous experience of ascent and descent, allowing visitors to move seamlessly through the canyon’s shifting elevations. Each circular platform frames views, directs circulation, and integrates with the site. At the core of Ouimet Edge is a reinforced steel spine pinned to a concrete foundation, anchoring the structure and expressing the dramatic cantilevers of the rings. As an AESS Feature Element, this core is highlighted rather than hidden, demonstrating how the project pushes steel beyond conventional limits. From the spine, the platforms extend as cantilevered plates, made possible by steel’s performance in both tension and compression. Custom tension rods, cast nodes, and clevis fasteners counterbalance forces to achieve the projecting forms without heavy supports. Built of high-performance AESS, the system emphasizes precision, lightness, and a sense of weightlessness.
The staircase wraps around the core, connecting each elevation and guiding visitors through shifting perspectives of the canyon, while its steel grating allows light and air to pass through to heighten the sense of being suspended. Within the core, a motorized inclinator provides a fully accessible route, stopping at each platform so all visitors can experience the lookout. Together, the stair encourages gradual exploration while the lift offers direct access. In doing so, Ouimet Edge demonstrates how structural innovation, material honesty, and sensitivity to site can converge to produce daring forms that heighten the visitor’s experience while remaining deeply respectful of the surrounding landscape.
In Gratitude
Thank you to Toronto Metropolitan University for its continued support and for providing the environment that allowed this project to grow. A special thank you to Professor Vincent Hui, whose guidance and feedback, were instrumental throughout the design process.
Observation Deck Over Ouimet Canyon – Perspective
Longitudinal Section - Ouimet Edge
AESS 1 - Feature Element
AESS 2 - Feature Element
Nature Immersed Ouimet Edge – Perspective
Canadian Institute of Steel Construction Ontario Region Scholarship:
This scholarship is intended to provide financial support for a student in recognition of demonstrated exceptional work and design in a project in which steel is used in an innovative manner.
Dhruvan Modugula & Zain Malik
Ouimet Edge is a visionary steel observation deck offering an experiential journey beyond a mere viewpoint. The design is oriented around three interlinked circular platforms that cantilever boldly over Ouimet Canyon, creating spaces that blend the line between conceptual thought and practical application.
The interlocked rings create a continuous experience of ascent and descent, allowing visitors to move seamlessly through the canyon’s shifting elevations. Each circular platform frames views, directs circulation, and integrates with the site. At the core of Ouimet Edge is a reinforced steel spine pinned to a concrete foundation, anchoring the structure and expressing the dramatic cantilevers of the rings. As an AESS Feature Element, this core is highlighted rather than hidden, demonstrating how the project pushes steel beyond conventional limits. From the spine, the platforms extend as cantilevered plates, made possible by steel’s performance in both tension and compression. Custom tension rods, cast nodes, and clevis fasteners counterbalance forces to achieve the projecting forms without heavy supports. Built of high-performance AESS, the system emphasizes precision, lightness, and a sense of weightlessness.
The staircase wraps around the core, connecting each elevation and guiding visitors through shifting perspectives of the canyon, while its steel grating allows light and air to pass through to heighten the sense of being suspended. Within the core, a motorized inclinator provides a fully accessible route, stopping at each platform so all visitors can experience the lookout. Together, the stair encourages gradual exploration while the lift offers direct access. In doing so, Ouimet Edge demonstrates how structural innovation, material honesty, and sensitivity to site can converge to produce daring forms that heighten the visitor’s experience while remaining deeply respectful of the surrounding landscape.
In Gratitude
Thank you to Toronto Metropolitan University for its continued support and for providing the environment that allowed this project to grow. A special thank you to Professor Vincent Hui, whose guidance and feedback, were instrumental throughout the design process.
Observation Deck Over Ouimet Canyon – Perspective
Longitudinal Section - Ouimet Edge
AESS 1 - Feature Element
AESS 2 - Feature Element
Nature Immersed Ouimet Edge – Perspective
