The University of Toronto’s (U of T’s) new Student Commons is wholly-designed for students – a space students can call their own. Located at the corner of College and Huron Streets, formerly the Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, and prior to that the Royal College of Dental Surgeons, the Student Commons extends across all six floors of this early 20th-century building.
The Student Commons is a first for the St. George campus, whereby students have a dedicated space to unwind, meet, study, get connected, grab a bite to eat, or access services in a singular location.
The renovation and expansion, led by Superkül, responds to student and institutional needs “in the context of a design that forges new connections and communities in an old and complex space.” In sum, the spirit of the Student Commons is one of possibility, accessibility, and connection.
In order to jive with the architectural aesthetic, Entro designed a signage and wayfinding program that references circular shapes and elements from the original building. Using these simple forms, the signage is easily distinguishable from its surrounds; yet design details such as classic, legible typography and a simplified colour palette bring the program into harmony with the architecture.
Entro is pleased to have played a small role in the transformation of an environment that provides students attending U of T’s St. George campus with a safe and inviting space for years to come.
Photography by Tom Arban