Early Learning Centre (building)

Last updated March 26, 2019

The Early Learning Centre designed by Teeple Architects in 2003 is an intricate space intended for the children of the University of Toronto faculty and students to enhance the enjoyment of their learning experiences. One of the most important aspects of the building is the large open spaces, big windows, and clear connections between rooms that allow for children's interaction with the exterior environment and with each other.

Teeple Architects is an architecture firm based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, founded by Stephen Teeple. From its inception in 1989, Teeple Architects Inc. has built a broad range of institutional, commercial and residential projects, community and recreation centres, libraries, schools and university buildings.

The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in the colony of Upper Canada. Originally controlled by the Church of England, the university assumed the present name in 1850 upon becoming a secular institution. As a collegiate university, it comprises eleven colleges, which differ in character and history, each with substantial autonomy on financial and institutional affairs. It has two satellite campuses in Scarborough and Mississauga.

The building is made up of multi-levels, leaving some areas to be double-height, creating loft and pit-like spaces for the children to play in. The different rooms are mainly centered on a ramp, which is used for circulation.^[1] There are lightwells that run along the double-atrium ramp that help to brighten up the spaces.^[2] The whole building was designed around a large walnut tree, which currently is placed in the back of the building. The exterior of the building is made up of large Gavalume panels, and light green-tinted transparent glass windows.^[1] They seem randomly placed, but in fact follow a certain pattern and the positioning of each panel and glass is properly justified^[3] The entire building has a planar profile is very linear, and does not consist of any curvy or irregular shapes. The architects were also careful in creating a structure that did not stand out too much from its surrounding buildings. Though the principal materials are different from the residential building on the site, the architects conveyed some of the material elements of the brick by using it along the main entrance ramp of the centre. In terms of size, the centre though larger than most surrounding buildings, still maintains a modest size and is not overwhelmingly large. Overall, Teeple Architects were quite successful in generating an intricate playful space and rather complex form with the use of simple shapes and ideas.

A loft can be an upper storey or attic in a building, directly under the roof or just a storage space under the roof usually accessed by a ladder. A loft apartment refers to large adaptable open space, often converted for residential use from some other use, often light industrial. Adding to the confusion, some converted lofts include upper open loft areas. Within certain upper loft areas exist even further lofts, which may contain loft areas of their own, and so forth.

In architecture a lightwell, light well or air shaft is an unroofed external space provided within the volume of a large building to allow light and air to reach what would otherwise be a dark or unventilated area. Lightwells may be lined with glazed bricks to increase the reflection of sunlight within the space.

A walnut is the nut of any tree of the genus Juglans, particularly the Persian or English walnut, Juglans regia.

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References

1 2 Goodfellow, Margaret et al. A Guidebook to Contemporary Architecture in Toronto. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2010, 54.
↑ Donnelly, Erin. "Teeple's Treehouse." Canadian Interiors . March 2004, 54.
↑ Hill, John. "Early Learning Centre." A Weekly Dose of Architecture. N.p., 31 May 2004. Web. 19 Sep 2010. <http://www.archidose.org/May04/053104a.html>, 3).

Coordinates: 43°39′50″N79°24′04″W / 43.6639°N 79.4011°W / 43.6639; -79.4011

Geographic coordinate system Coordinate system

A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position and two or three of the numbers represent a horizontal position; alternatively, a geographic position may be expressed in a combined three-dimensional Cartesian vector. A common choice of coordinates is latitude, longitude and elevation. To specify a location on a plane requires a map projection.

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[Goodfellow-1] 1 2 Goodfellow, Margaret et al. A Guidebook to Contemporary Architecture in Toronto. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2010, 54.

[2] Donnelly, Erin. "Teeple's Treehouse." Canadian Interiors . March 2004, 54.

[3] Hill, John. "Early Learning Centre." A Weekly Dose of Architecture. N.p., 31 May 2004. Web. 19 Sep 2010. <http://www.archidose.org/May04/053104a.html>, 3).