Building with good genes
It’s good to be reminded, in this age of celebrity architects, that the best aren’t always the most famous. That point was made with deafening silence a few days ago, when the Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research opened its doors. Simply put, this is one of the finest buildings to have appeared in Toronto in some time. It’s so good, in fact, that it should be the first stop for visiting design stars. It would remind them that whatever else architecture may be, it is part of citybuilding. The $100 million glass structure, on the north side of College St., west of University Ave. on the University of Toronto campus, stands out on the urban landscape as an exemplar of architectural intelligence, sophistication and aesthetics. The designers, architectsAlliance of Toronto and Behnisch, Behnisch & Partner of Stuttgart, managed to balance the needs of the users with those of the city. The building works on many levels; it is a 21st- century icon on the campus, a civic space as well as a state- of- the- art centre of genomic research. As architect Adrian diCastri explains, it was based on the idea of the loft building; in other words, it provides large amounts of open space adaptable to many uses. At the same time, however, the “ public” areas of the building are beautifully conceived and executed. Through the main door, the visitor encounters a staircase and a small but soaring bamboo grove. The yellow- brick exterior of the old Rosebrugh Building is now the west wall of the centre. The labs, which form a buildingwithina- building, culminate in a series of balconies that look out over the bamboo. The effect is remarkable, with none of the slickness associated with lobbies and atriums. These spaces feel as if they were created to be enjoyed, not gawked at.
In the best tradition of neomodernism, the subtext is transparency and the play of light. Not only is the Donnelly connected to the larger context of the city; it’s also internally coherent. The building is clad from top to bottom in glass, and inside it’s much the same. Though not tall, 12 storeys are enough to make it a landmark. It looms over its neighbours, but it’s set back from the street far enough to create a public plaza, so it doesn’t feel especially high. The plaza, too, exudes a casual sense of sophistication and playfulness. Thick granite benches on angled legs add a touch of sly humour to the space. On every side, new pedestrian paths have been opened.
“ The idea was that scientists will come here from all over the world,” diCastri explains. “ We wanted an environment that would foster interactivity. The building itself is an attraction, a recruitment tool.”
DiCastri also confirms the old line about how great clients make great architecture.
“ U of T scientists Cecil Yip and Jim Friesen were fabulous,” he says. “ They had a vision of a place that would attract the brightest and the best. Genomic research encompasses a whole range of disciplines. They needed highly serviced, highly flexible space that can transform over time.” Who knows, perhaps in 30 years the building will have been turned into — what else — a condo? Unlike many, it would be a great place to live. Even the lobby would make a terrific apartment. The walls, detached, curved and clad in brightly coloured Italian mosaic, are highlights. They contrast brilliantly with the raw concrete columns and terrazzo floor.
This is not a deluxe building. The architects’ strategy was to pick significant detail and go big. Mosaic isn’t cheap, but almost everything else is. In the dazzle of the tiles, no one notices.
Best of all is the play between inside and out. This is accomplished with a series of interior gardens, complete with mature trees and groundcover, and the impressive bamboo thicket that easily reaches 10 metres high. Not surprisingly, the German firm brought a European influence to the project, most obvious in the double glass wall that envelops the centre. As diCastri points out, the building was a truly collaborative effort; on its own, neither firm would have designed the building as is. Now they are actively pursuing work together.
Let’s hope much of it will be in Toronto. Christopher Hume can be reached at chume@thestar.ca