The Rosalie Sharp Pavilion Revitalization Project at 115 McCaul Street will begin a formal community engagement process next week by holding open houses and ongoing working groups.
Open Houses scheduled for February 3 and February 5 and held at Onsite Gallery (230 Richmond Street West) invite all members of the OCAD U community to provide input towards interior and exterior design considerations as well as the sustainability plan for the project. A follow up event will be announced, likely for March, when the architect will present on the feedback from these sessions and how it has contributed to the design evolution of the project.
Additionally, two working groups are being created. An Interior Programming User Group will be led by Faculty of Design Dean Gayle Nicoll and Faculty of Art Acting Dean Peter Sramek and include student representation, as well as members from all faculties. The group will provide input and advice on ensuring that the space is actively programmed within the preliminary vision of creating multi-disciplinary, flexible, and rotational space for experiential learning, studio work and public engagement. The group will also contribute to articulation of the interior finishes in a way that reflects the programming and design intent.
A Media Wall Development Group will also be created to consider the possible nature and programming of media walls as part of the project. It is likely that both working groups will actively continue beyond the project completion date of autumn 2016.
The revitalization of the Pavilion is one of many steps being taken to meet current and future space needs at OCAD University. While the project will not solve all of OCAD U’s space pressures, it will create exciting new spaces for student, staff and faculty and will address specific student needs for experiential learning and studio space.