Osgoode Atkinson Green Competition

Campus landscapes have the power to convey to current and prospective students, faculty and staff the distinctiveness of a school’s character. PLANT has proposed a signature landscape design that will reflect and embody the cultural identity of the York University campus, enhance future signature buildings, strengthen the place of the heritage buildings on the site while also creating a sustainable green with an ecological presence on the campus. As part of this plan to fortify the historical presence of the buildings and to introduce a renewed sense of growth, community and conservation, we have opened up the green, offering a commanding view of the architecture – reconnecting the buildings to the site character. The green is an outdoor lounge with multiple points of entry creating an accessible, welcoming space for study, socialization and improved connectivity, strengthening the interaction of the campus community faculties and disciplines.

The design bolsters the north-south connectivity by introducing a planting buffer between the main path and Scholar’s Walk. The central green promotes the health of the existing healthy trees augmented by native and adaptive species drawn from surrounding historic plant communities. The project includes storm water catchment with the lawn and a directed circulation system.

This project was an entry in a limited competition.