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GOULD STREET

CAMPUS REVITALIZATION

A new plan for Victoria and Gould Streets

IF YOU NOTICE some construction on Gould and Victoria Streets this year, you may wonder what’s going on and why.

The work is part of the Campus Core Revitalization project, designed to enhance the quality of safe, accessible spaces and implement infrastructure upgrades, resulting in a campus that’s greener, more easily accessible, pedestrian-friendly and connected to the community.

“As a key component of our Campus Public Realm Plan, this project really aims to create common outdoor spaces on campus where our community can come together and thrive,” said Deborah Brown, vicepresident, administration and operations. “While addressing these needs, we are taking the opportunity to build accessibility into the design and to modernize our infrastructure. We want to create a defined campus core that encourages community connections and enhances the experience of being at Ryerson.”

From this spring to fall and winter 2019, the revitalization region will stretch down Victoria Street and Nelson Mandela Walk from Gerrard St. E. to 285 Victoria Street; and along Gould Street from O’Keefe Lane to Bond Street. Since those areas will largely be fenced off for public safety, a pedestrian pathway will remain available on the south side of Gould Street.

KEY UPGRADES

This initiative will enhance the campus in several key ways:

1. Pedestrian-friendly

A permanent pedestrian-only zone will be established on Gould Street from O’Keefe Lane to Bond Street. Bollards will prevent vehicles from entering and cyclists will continue to be requested to dismount.

2. Accessibility

The project will raise the street level to be even with curbs throughout the pedestrianonly zone and add two new ramped entrances from Nelson Mandela Walk into Kerr Hall to make the area more accessible.

3. Connection to community

You’ll see new outdoor event infrastructure, including seating and programming space for more community gatherings and connections on campus.

4. Green space

Nearly 15,000 large shrubs, perennials and grasses will be planted in the project area. Diseased trees will be removed and replaced by nearly twice as many trees, and a more diverse collection of native species that offer visual interest in every season. Trees planted in paved areas will go into underground soil cells, which allow for root growth, drainage and better plant health.

The Campus Core Revitalization 2019 project was made possible thanks to the generous contribution of $7 million in funding towards the overall budget of this project from the City of Toronto and tremendous support from Toronto City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam.

—Deborah Smyth

12 Ryerson University Magazine / Summer 2019