Lazaridis Hall is the new home of the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University. The building is also home to Laurier’s Department of Mathematics and associated programs, including the Lazaridis Institute and the Schlegel Centre for Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation.
The design imperative was to craft a building that supports the school’s mandate is to develop leaders with skills in management and economics. It should be able to serve a variety of functions, including teaching, faculty and administrative work, and peer learning.
The day lit atrium building provides much-needed space for the campus community. The large wood-lined central gathering space presents a warm, inviting and acoustically attenuated environment where the wood slatted walls are multi-functional. They conceal extensive acoustic treatment, which allows for both group and individual study.
Wood slats also provide a degree of privacy to office windows surrounding the atrium. This bright, interconnected space contributes daylight and view within a large floor plate so that virtually all occupied spaces – including the 240 faculty offices – have windows to the exterior, atrium or courtyard.
Designed from the inside out, the building form and wood materiality celebrate significant programme components such as the curvilinear auditorium and hovering 300-seat lecture hall.
Wood veneer-faced resin phenolic panels clad the exterior curved walls and closely-matched wood veneer panels provide continuity on the interior curved walls. These simple strong forms contribute to the building’s expression and presence along University Avenue.
Lazaridis Hall is one of the 12 winners of the Ontario Wood WORKS! 2017 Wood Design Award. The awards programme honours people and organisations that are advancing the use of wood in all types of construction.
Award Category: Interior Design
Photography: Doublespace Photography
Project: Lazaridis Hall, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON
Architect: Diamond Schmitt Architects
Associate Architect: David Thompson Architect Ltd.
Structural Engineer: VanBoxmeer & Stranges Engineering Ltd.
