Fleming College’s Sutherland Campus is a Clean and Luminous Appearance

On the edge of the City of Peterborough, east of Toronto, Fleming College’s Sutherland Campus was established in 1973 with buildings designed by Ron Thom with Thompson Berwick and Pratt and Partners. Gow Hastings was commissioned to revitalize the outdated 76,000 sq f A-Wing Building, which serves as the campus gateway and classroom facility.

The building appeared dated and contained systems that had exceeded their life cycles. Overcrowding in corridors and staircases needed to be addressed, and inconsistent lighting and lack of views to the exterior made the building uninviting. The challenge was to transform the dark, heavy, and inefficient building into one that meets the standards of 21st century learning and sustainability, with all renovations taking place while the building was fully occupied.

The dark brown aluminium envelope was replaced with alpolic aluminium panels – a readily available, lightweight material found on gas stations that instantly gives the building a clean and luminous appearance. Entrances and key circulation spaces are demarcated with glass pavilions, adding a transparent central hub that serves as a meeting space for socializing and informal learning. A skylight that draws light downwards over multiple storeys, and replacing classroom and office walls with glazing allows light to pervade the interior.

Performance upgrades included new roofing, energy efficient glazing, LED light fixtures with occupancy sensors, and components made of recycled materials. To improve circulation entrances were adjusted to respond to the most commonly used pathways, and straightened corridors create intuitive and accessible spaces within.

Project Information

Architect: Gow Hastings