Scroll to top
Architecture | Public Buildings & Institutional

Sheridan College Hazel McCallion Campus Phase 2A Student and Athletic Centre


Moriyama Teshima Architects (MTA) and Mongomery Sisam Architects (MSA)



Short description

The Hazel McCallion Campus Phase 2A (HMC2A) is an integral addition to the Sheridan College campus expansion, with a range of amenity spaces and athletics facilities designed to give diversity and depth to the student experience. The new 70,000 ft¬¬2 student hub connects to the previously completed Phase 2 academic building and provides not only a community gathering space for this campus but also creates a sense of place in the heart of the college within the growing area of downtown Mississauga.

The building houses a fitness centre, gymnasium, and running track, as well as study spaces, food outlets, and administrative spaces. In designing this social and wellness centre, connections were maximized between large, open, multipurpose spaces and smaller, more defined program spaces, indoor amenities, and outdoor amenities. Open and covered walkways, a patio, and outdoor turf field complement the graphic, angular design of the quad and encourage social activities inside the building to spill out onto school grounds. These quality outdoor spaces support the desire for intensification and animate the public realm while supporting a strong student community.

The stakeholder engagement process was unique in that the client was not just singularly Sheridan College – the advisory team also included the Student Union and the Sheridan College Senate, the governing body responsible for decisions on all budgeting, future endeavours, and expansion. Together, these three parties contributed to decision making, influencing the design. The collaboration resulted in three distinct layers that are expressed not only through the building’s massing and internal program layout, but also in the unique exterior expressions of each volume. The first is the 2-storey volume at grade, primarily swathed in a transparent envelope to maximize visual connections to the outdoors while exuding a feeling of lightness and welcome. This space was designed to promote a seamless connection between the Student Union and the community beyond. The second layer consists of the athletic facilities, including the double-height gymnasium, weight room, elevated running track, and ballet studio. This section of the massing between floors three and five are enclosed in a more solid façade with variegated aluminum sun-shading. Finally, the third layer on the top level is dedicated space for the Sheridan College Senate, which offers flexible meeting rooms and sweeping views of downtown Mississauga.

The building material palette was selected to create a timeless yet unique building expression, while complementing the adjacent building fabric of the Civic District. The pedestrian level of Phase 2A has extensive curtain wall/glazing on a durable plinth made of flamed granite. Levels 3 and 4 above are clad in a screen of extruded white aluminum vertical fins that vary in spacing and depth in response to solar orientation and views out and into the building — glimpses of the gym, fitness areas, and running track generates interest to passersby. The top-level steps back, creating a glazed meeting suite, while concealing the mechanical penthouse.

The building design is intended to work at various scales. Wood soffits, recessed entrances, and other finer grain elements help to create a pedestrian scale. From a distance, the play of light and shadow on the façade subtly transforms the building throughout the day, and at night the lantern-like glow of the building can be seen from afar.

This project is about both expanding the Hazel McCallion Campus and city building. It responds to the needs of the enlarging campus and the vision of Mississauga’s Downtown21 Master Plan. This building has fortified the campus’s identity and strengthened a sense of place within Mississauga. HMC2A was designed to provide definition and active edges to the public realm, such as Scholar’s Green and the new pedestrian sidewalks and bike paths. A deep recess at the base of the building helps to create a pedestrian scale, while indoor and outdoor connections are enhanced by the location of entrances, with a series of large sliding glazed doors along the park side, connecting interior public spaces such as a café and student social areas to outdoor patios other complementary exterior amenities.

The design goal of HMC2A was to create a holistic experience by providing social and wellness spaces to enrich the student experience outside the classroom, transforming the campus into a place that students can belong as part of a larger community. Specifically, the fitness centre serves as a communal space for various group fitness classes, workout partnerships, and team-building wellness initiatives, cultivating a sense of shared community among users. This social aspect of Phase 2A contributes to fulfilling part of Sheridan’s mission — a positive building culture, and fostering connections among individuals who share a commitment to self-improvement through academics and exercise.

The 2023 energy model report indicates Energy Use Intensity of 175 ekWh/m2 — this is because the building is nearly constantly occupied, with intense programmatic drivers (gym, fitness zones, etc.), causing high ventilation load and energy usage. Despite these unavoidable stressors, the design of the building envelope is of extremely high quality and the HVAC system implements sustainable practices. The project targets LEED Gold Certification.

HMC2A plays a big part in the health and wellbeing of its occupants and users, as well as the surrounding community, through its focus on both physical and mental health through its design and program. The fitness spaces within the building transform it into an active environment that promotes movement throughout the day. This, in turn, counteracts the sedentary nature of many traditional academic or office buildings. Encouraging occupants to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines aligns with contemporary wellness trends and contributes to a more dynamic and health-oriented lifestyle, proven to reduce stress and enhance productivity.

Entry details
LocationMississauga, Canada
Lead designerMTA: Daniel Teramura, MSA: Daniel Ling
Design teamCarol Phillips, Boris Pavicevic, Will Klassen, Janice Chan, Robert D’Errico, Joel Starkman, Dennis Silva, Enda McDonagh, Kevin Hutchinson, Kavitha Jayakrishnan
Consultant teamPomerleau, WSP Canada, MCW Group of Companies, Fabian Papa & Partners, Halsall Associates, Jensen Hughes, Turner & Townsend, KAIZEN Foodservice Planning & Design, Thornton Tomasetti, DesignABLE Environments Inc., SDW Cabling Consulting, Canon Design, GH3 and Studio TLA
Photography creditsPhotographs: DoubleSpace Photography
Share project