Author: rachel.mia

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Ryerson Today: The next generation of library

“From one perspective, libraries are in a state of change: we’ve all heard about the so-Ryerson Librarycalled “death of books,” and have experienced the wealth of information available online. But from another perspective, the role of libraries has never changed at all. Reconciling these truths is a challenge the Ryerson University Library has been able to meet, with a steady stream of new technologies and initiatives to supplement the essential library experience.” Read full article

 

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The Star: Eight reasons to love Toronto

“The rash of great buildings nearing completion. The University of Toronto’s Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, Ryerson University’s Student Learning Centre on Yonge St. and the Ismaili Centre/Aga Khan Museum of Islamic Art at Eglinton and Wynford Dr. are brilliant examples of how architecture is bringing new richness to the city. As well as providing new opportunities, each of these structures resolves the traditional distinction between beauty and utility. Form is as much a part of these three buildings as function.” Read full article 

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Ryerson Today: Transforming the campus and the city

Ryerson Student Learning Centre“Two years after breaking ground, construction on Ryerson’s stunning eight-storey, $112 million Student Learning Centre (SLC) is entering its final stages.

The SLC is transforming the corner of Yonge and Gould Streets into a vibrant intersection for the city and providing the Ryerson community with an outstanding environment to study, collaborate and share ideas. The eight-storey building features bright, open, technologically rich, barrier-free spaces for Ryerson students to pursue individual and collaborative study and a variety of learning environments, digital support and academic services to foster a culture of collaboration and creativity….” Read full article

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The New York Times: Transforming, but Not Disrupting

Ryerson Student Learning Centre

“The Ryerson University Student Learning Center in Toronto by Snohetta is another library with urban ambitions. The building, to open in early 2015, looks like a gem on stilts, with a bridge to the historic building where the books are kept. The ground floor on busy Yonge Street will have retail shops; around the corner, on pedestrian-heavy Gould Street, a set of steps and mirror like triangulated canopy invite students and the public into an open lobby.”  Read full article

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What does the Strategic Projects Liaison do?

My name is Carrie-Ann and I’m here to help you fill the Student Learning Centre (SLC) with pride and purpose beyond traditional study space.

As the Strategic Projects Liaison for the Office of the Provost and Vice President Academic, it’s my job to help students understand what the SLC is and what it will mean to their Ryerson learning experience. Most importantly, I’m here to ensure that students are involved in shaping it. Continue reading “What does the Strategic Projects Liaison do?”

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SLC Principles

It takes a village.  Or in our case, the Ryerson community to build and open a complex project like the SLC. Ryerson has seen other complex projects come to life with much success. This is why we decided to take a page from their book in best practices.

When the MAC was near-opening, the teams working together on the project crafted a set of principles. These served as a the foundation for a system of belief and behaviour. It helped them be in sync when decisions needed to be made and when they were faced with competing priorities. Continue reading “SLC Principles”

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Connecting the Library to the SLC

If you have been to the Library recently, you’ve seen the buzz of construction activity.

The renovations which are being undertaken in the Library are to prepare for and ensure ease of access to the bridge that will link the Library and the SLC. This blog post describes the physical aspect for which this bridge will serve. However, the purpose of this bridge goes far beyond girders and glass. It will link Ryerson’s new front entrance from Yonge Street to the rest of campus. In essence, we are building a bridge to Ryerson.

Here’s how the bridge will link the two buildings:

  • Walking off of Yonge Street, the entrance of the SLC leads to an open amphitheatre space and cafe. This two-storey tiered casual seating area houses the entrance and bridge to the LIB. The stairwell on level 1 takes you to the bridge on level 2.
  • As you walk into the existing Library, access to the bridge will welcome you immediately and draw you over. As you walk onto the bridge, you will see the two-storey SLC entrance and amphitheatre, as well as great sightlines into the digital activity hub on level 3.
Bridge to library building
Bridge view from inside the SLC
Bridge view from inside the Library

To make the bridge possible, here’s what you can expect over the next little while:

When the new bridge opens, there will be a significant increase in traffic through the existing main entrance of the Library. To anticipate and to ease the flow, the entrance/exit doors are being restructured.

  • The existing Library entrance doors will become ‘hold open’ doors allowing for both entry and exit. Placing the doors on hold open will ease the flow of traffic in and out of the Library and through to the SLC.
  • A feature wall currently faces the Library’s entrance. Removing a portion of this wall will help with flow of traffic between the bridge and the Library’s entrance/exit.Ryerson Library Feature Wall

 

 

  • Affixed to this wall was the floor directory and the digital signage. They have been removed during the construction and will be reinstalled once complete. Their permanent home once the SLC is open is still to be determined.
  • The way-finding kiosk and the vending machine which were located near the entrance have been relocated during the construction. The vending machine is currently near the express computer stations. The way-finding kiosk will be repositioned near the new entry/exit doors.
  • The existing exit doors will be closed permanently and converted into windows. All traffic will flow through the current entrance door. This will be the latter half of the project.

What this means during the renovation:

  • Phase 1: temporary access into and out-of the Library will be through the current exit doors (until mid-August)
  • Phase 2: the use of the new hold open – entry/exit doors will permit access into and out-of the Library.  The old exit doors will be converted into windows
  • Renovations started on July 14th and are scheduled to be complete in early September

You will see these posters throughout the renovation.

Contacts & Useful Links:

LIB renovations: If you have any questions regarding the renovations being undertaken in the LIB, please ask a staff member, or email refdesk@ryerson.ca.

LIB Blog: Library Renovations

Student Learning Centre Media Room

Ryerson Builds