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The winning competition entry for the University of British Columbia’s University Boulevard was developed in an effort to weave disparate areas of the campus into a unified whole, creating a vital nexus of community. It is an urban design solution that successfully integrates social and academic realms, buildings and landscapes. Memorable places nurture interaction, connect to climate and context, and project the entire campus into the global conversation. Open spaces support social interaction through serendipitous encounters and celebratory gatherings.
Key open spaces and buildings have clear identities, yet weave a rich tapestry. The confluence of memorable landscapes with diverse yet harmonious buildings and programs creates a powerful sense of entry into a vital mixed-use district. The University Boulevard is a landscaped promenade paved with a rich woven pattern inspired by the artistic weaving of the native cultures. A central rill reinforces the visual axis – a silver thread – while collecting the abundant rainwater. Under the elms, carpets of native grasses create rain gardens – places for interaction. The eastern extension of University Boulevard rises up to meet the central axis of the campus and becomes an ecological demonstration of water collection and purification using native species and creative civil engineering practices to deal with the significant amount of storm water that is characteristic of the Vancouver area. A fountain at the intersection of the Main Mall acts as the source, linking University Boulevard to the historic campus center. The existing bosque of oaks becomes a more accessible eave of trees, paths, and activities.
The major open spaces converge at University Square where the weaving a paths and districts is celebrated. Here the historic elm, a specimen of great size and character, shelters the “Goddess of Democracy,” preserved from Tiananman Square, Beijing. A new “lantern” entry to the University bookstore combines with granite seat walls, new sloping north and south knolls, and a richly detailed paving to define an inviting yet flexible plaza. Secondary spaces are arranged to create quiet, informal paths and courtyards. These spaces, combines with green roofs and roof gardens, provide a hierarchy of social spaces from public though private uses.
American Institute of Architects
2006 Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
2006 Urban Design Award |
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