7 Facts You Didn't Know About Ryerson's All-New Student Learning Centre
Ryerson's new Student Learning Centre is quite possibly the most exciting thing to dawn upon Ryerson in 2015. It's been open since the end of February, and it's been receiving a lot of love and positive reviews (in contrast to the failure of painting Gould Street, but let's not talk about that).
For some people, the SLC is their go-to study spot, and for others, it's their go-to hang out spot on campus. Unless you took a tour of the SLC, you probably don't know the interesting little details and facts behind it.
We got the inside scoop on the coolest facts about the SLC, and we're going to share them with you.
1. The beanbag chairs are made out of recycled racing boat sails
If you look on the tags of each one, you'll see the name of the boats they came from. Sail cool, right?
2. The building was designed by Snøhetta
Snøhetta is the same firm that designed the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum Pavilion at the World Trade Center. Pretty top notch stuff, huh?
3. It's eco-friendly
There are three green roof gardens, as well as a rainwater-harvest cistern system, which is expected to save enough water to fill three and a half Olympic-sized pools over the span of a year. How insane is that?
4. The blue ceiling tiles in the amphitheatre are finished in an iridescent blue automotive treatment
In other words, they're finished in car paint to make them all shiny and pretty. We know you love it, we've seen all your Instagram photos.
5. The building cost $112 million to make
This number includes a whole bunch of costs including construction, furniture and equipment, architects and engineers, permits, connecting the Student Learning Centre to the Library, and more. A great cost for a great building.
6. The ceiling lights on the Beach floor aren't just there to look pretty
The circular lighting on the 6th floor is a tribute to the sun to keep it with the beach theme. It's also reminiscent of the Sam the Record Man sign from the Sam the Record Man store, which used to be where the SLC is now. The original Sam the Record Man sign is getting its new home at Yonge-Dundas Square.
7. There are actually reasons for the geometric patterns on the glass exterior of the building
You've definitely looked through at least one of the geometric shapes on the windows if you've been in the SLC. They're designed so that every shape you look through, you see the city from a different view. The patterns also create a reflective surface to reduce solar glare and help with overall energy efficiency, to keep the building eco-friendly. They're also a technique to keep birds from flying into the windows.
If you want to learn more, check out the SLC blog.