Archinect - News

Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) details the push behind its new name

2022-08-19T18:27:00-04:00

Concerns about the university’s association with and commemoration of Ryerson had been voiced by its Indigenous students, staff and faculty for years. How the university addressed those concerns with statements on its website or revised plaques placed next to Egerton Ryerson’s statue fell short of the steps necessary to speak to his legacy or the continued harm it was causing

Egerton Ryerson’s name is inextricably linked to the legacy of murder and abuse within Canada’s residential schools, as he is often cited as the system’s principal designer through his role as the country’s first Chief Superintendent of Education starting in 1844. This relation made the university a target of a nationwide protest movement which eventually took down a statue of the educator in a well-publicized June 2021 kerfuffle.

The rebranding was the product of a working group called Standing Strong (or Mash Koh Wee Kah Pooh Win) that convened with a 22-strong list of recommendations a year ago. Over 2,000 unique names (including the temporary 'X University' moniker) were considered in a public consultation. Dr. Eva Jewell, an Indigenous faculty member who detailed her own past experiences with racism at the school, tells University Affairs it "signals a willingness to listen and an attentiveness to the issues of our time."

Related on Archinect: National Gallery of Canada establi...

Perkins&Will unveils 28-story 'vertical campus' at Ryerson University in Toronto

2021-02-02T14:30:00-05:00

The Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex (DCHS) at Ryerson University is a 28-story "vertical campus" that facilitates interdisciplinary academic discourse on a confined urban site. The structure was a winner of the 2021 Best Tall Building Award by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).

Designed by Perkins&Will, the nearly 300,000-square-foot building was completed as part of Ryerson’s 2008 campus master plan to guide its expansion through new development and renovations.

"Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex demonstrates Ryerson University’s position as active city-builders," said Andrew Frontini, design director of Perkins&Will's Toronto and Ottawa studios, in a statement." We found a wonderful fit with Ryerson where our teams were both incredibly motivated to work alongside communities and stakeholder groups to create a state-of-the-art living and learning space. It was critical that we introduce a building that not only connects to...

Get Lectured: Ryerson University, 2019-20

2019-09-23T21:00:00-04:00

Archinect's Architecture School Lecture Guide for Fall 2019

With a new school year already here, it's time for Archinect's latest edition of Get Lectured, an ongoing series where we feature a school's lecture series—and their snazzy posters—for the current term. Check back regularly to keep track of any upcoming lectures you don't want to miss.

Want to share your school's lecture series? Send us your school's lecture series poster and details to connect@archinect.com.

Ryerson University's Department of Architectural Science in Toronto kicked off their 2019-2020 event series with the Trans+Formation exhibition featuring M.Arch works. Lecturers this year include James Timberlake, Anders Lendager, Jodi Batay-Csorba and Andrew Batay-Csorba, Michael Maltzan, and Philip Goad.

Other events in 2020 include the “Canadian Modern Architecture, 1967 to the Present” book launch and panel discussion, Collaborative Exercise throughout the month of January, New Faculty in Practice featuring William...

Get Lectured: Ryerson University, 2018-19

2018-10-18T14:21:00-04:00

Archinect's Architecture School Lecture Guide for Fall 2018

With a new school year upon us, it's time for Archinect's latest Get Lectured, an ongoing series where we feature a school's lecture series—and their snazzy posters—for the current term. Check back regularly to keep track of any upcoming lectures you don't want to miss.

Want to share your school's lecture series? Send us your school's lecture series poster and details to connect@archinect.com.

The Ryerson University Department of Architectural Science's 2018-19 lecture series is well underway — with more upcoming events through 2019! Some of those events include the DAS Student Awards for undergraduates and graduates, a lecture from Douglas Cardinal, the “Collaborative Exercise” exhibition, lectures from Marion Weiss** and Monadnock's Sandor Naus, the Graduate Thesis Work Show, and more. (You can find the Winter '19 poster in the gallery below.)

**UPDATE: The Marion Weiss lecture has been postponed to March 14.

Check out pre...

Will Alsop has been appointed Ryerson Distinguished Visiting Practitioner in Architecture

2009-11-05T12:04:00-05:00

Toronto's Ryerson University has announced the appointment of Alsop to Distinguished Visiting Practitioner in Architecture. Press release after the jump...

WILL ALSOP APPOINTED RYERSON DISTINGUISHED VISITING PRACTITIONER IN ARCHITECTURE

TORONTO, Nov.5, 2009--- Famed British architect Will Alsop has been
named a Distinguished Visiting Practitioner in Architecture at Ryerson
University for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Alsop is one of the most prominent UK architects and is known around
the world for his avant-garde, modernist style. Since his foray into
architecture at the age of 16, Alsop has completed projects in England,
Wales, France, Germany, The Netherlands and here in Toronto, including the Alsop Toronto Sales Centre, the Sharp Centre for Design and his current project, the Westside Lofts. An Officer of the Order of the
British Empire (OBE), he has set up practices in Beijing, London,
Shanghai, Singapore and Toronto.

'Will Alsop's decision to come to Ryerson is a tremendous
endorsement of ...

Will Alsop relocating to Toronto

2009-08-14T12:36:00-04:00

Will Alsop, who we reported the other day has left his own UK-based architecture practice, has just been announced to join the faculty at Toronto's Ryerson University architecture department. The Star

"Let's put it this way," says the unconventional architect/painter, "if Harvard were to ask me to do something, I'd probably say no."

As the man who always cheers for the underdog explains it, "I like the graduate department at Ryerson because it's fairly young, it's only been around for a few years, and I like things that are new."