Design of indoor and outdoor spaces: enhancing Concordia’s campus experience

Gathering spaces: flexible and inclusive environments

The Campus Master Plan emphasizes diverse spaces for gathering and sharing, both indoors and outdoors, on both campuses. Key design considerations include:

• Community connection: enhance and expand safe, inclusive spaces for students, faculty, staff and visitors.
• Flexibility: provide adaptable spaces with attention to acoustics, lighting and accessibility.
• Biophilic design: integrate natural elements to promote well-being and mental health.
• Recharge areas: include quiet spaces for meditation and relaxation, as well as dynamic zones for socializing and dining.
• Living labs: encourage innovation by incorporating living laboratory concepts into space design.
• Essential amenities: provide accessible and inclusive washrooms, as well as versatile furniture to support various activities.

Each campus will integrate street-connected spaces such as entrance lobbies and forecourts that promote flexible use, temporary exhibitions and gatherings, reinforcing the university’s values of openness and accessibility.

Community services and dining

To strengthen ties between both campuses and their surrounding neighbourhoods, the Campus Master Plan proposes:

• Community spaces: central locations for interaction beyond departmental boundaries, fostering a sense of belonging.
• Expanded dining options: new communal dining spaces and diversified, healthy food offerings, with outdoor dining areas integrated into building forecourts and terraces.
• Multi-purpose gathering spaces: areas that allow for both dining and event hosting.

Each campus will feature enhanced communal dining areas, providing inclusive and adaptable spaces that encourage social interaction and offer diverse, health food options. Outdoor seating and dining areas will be expanded on building terraces and forecourts to maximize accessibility.

First Peoples’ House: honouring Indigenous cultures

The creation of a First Peoples’ House will provide a welcoming space inspired by traditional Indigenous designs. This central hub, along with satellite locations, will celebrate Indigenous cultures through both indoor and outdoor community spaces. The design and programming will be developed in consultation with Indigenous representatives.

Enhancing campus identity: furniture, signage and lighting

Furniture

Campus furniture will balance functionality and aesthetics:

• Accessibility and flexibility: include versatile seating, bike racks and elements like planters with seating.
• Strategic placement: locate furniture along pathways, in courtyards and at mobility hubs.
• Support for activities: provide sports-related and urban agriculture-friendly furniture in key areas.
• Corridor workspaces: integrated furniture will create gathering and study areas in hallways and common spaces on both campuses.

Signage

Wayfinding and informational signage will:

• Reflect Concordia’s identity with cohesive design elements.
• Highlight Indigenous culture, campus history and institutional achievements.
• Enhance accessibility through inclusive design and multilingual options.
• Utilize digital wayfinding systems in key locations on both campuses.

Lighting

A strategic lighting plan will:

• Improve campus safety and visibility at all hours.
• Use diverse lighting types to highlight key features, entrances and pathways.
• Showcase architectural and landscape heritage, adapting to seasons and events.
• Feature adaptive lighting based on foot traffic, improving sustainability and visibility.

Artworks and commemorative features

Concordia’s tradition of incorporating art into its campus will expand under the Campus Master Plan. Key initiatives include:

• Public art: install new sculptures, murals and sensory installations that honour Indigenous cultures and territorial acknowledgments.
• Art integration: incorporate artworks into buildings, quadrangles and along pathways.
• Commemorative spaces: develop adaptable spaces like donor walls and plaques to celebrate Concordia’s history and contributions.

Both campuses will see an expansion of indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces, promoting artistic expression and interdisciplinary collaboration. The plan also emphasizes plazas and walkways dedicated to honouring key figures and events in Concordia’s history, ensuring that commemorative elements are accessible and engaging.