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GOULD STREET

NEWS ABOUT TODAY’S RYERSON

New community, student space

HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW THE CAMPUS IS CHANGING: RENOVATED STUDIOS, NEW PERFORMANCE SPACE AND PLANS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

Ryerson plans to create a more pedestrian-friendly Gould Plaza, shown in this rendering, as part of its Public Realm project.

A welcoming campus

Ryerson University has unveiled an ambitious new plan to guide future development of the campus, which will help foster campus life, improve accessibility and further define the school’s identity.

The Public Realm report, which was approved by the Ryerson board of governors and released last fall, aims to improve the public spaces (streets, sidewalks and pedestrian areas) within Ryerson’s precinct. It establishes a vision for better safety and accessibility, while also helping Ryerson better define the campus environment.

“We’d like it to be clear that you’re ‘on campus’ and not at an intersection. We also want people to be proud of the campus,” said Janice Winton, vice-president, administration and finance. “We want people to say, ‘Wow, look at Ryerson, look how welcoming it is. You always know when you’re on the Ryerson campus.’”

The report is founded on the principles and objectives outlined in Ryerson’s 2008 Master Plan, including enhanced accessibility and walkability, and creating a signature Ryerson University landscape.

The first proposed project is an enhancement of Gould Plaza which became a vibrant pedestrian-friendly area after it was closed to car traffic in 2011. The plan proposes to raise the former roadway to the level of the sidewalk (creating a single shared surface), and incorporate new lighting.

At the unveiling of the Public Realm report, Toronto city councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam said the city has allocated $2 million to the Ryerson plan.

6 Ryerson University Magazine • WINTER 2017