Orchard Commons
University of British Columbia
Vancouver BC
1,000 incoming students at University of British Columbia prompted the construction of two new residence towers and a large dining hall, both of which needed complementary outdoor spaces. These designated spaces were to serve as multifunctional pockets; a sprawling lawn for students to recreate and study, a large deck for convocation ceremonies, and a private area for UBC’s daycare. The landscape design needed to integrate the built forms of the buildings with the surrounding context, creating a sense of movement, flow, and clarity of intention.
The significant change in grade inspired the challenge to accommodate all levels of accessibility and mobility. Solutions include stairs and ramps, 24/7 elevator access, as well as sloped walkways at varying degrees of challenge. A beloved arbutus tree – the focal point of the children’s daycare yard – required specialist arboricultural techniques, including bracing and cabling, air spade excavation in and around the roots, special decking and wood chip surfacing.
Extensive consultation included Vantage College, who helped determine programming options and indoor/outdoor interaction, and the close adherence to play and safety requirements for the UBC Daycare allowed for unique design solutions for ages five months to five years. The comprehensive landscape strategy contrasts outdoor programming with the immediately adjacent interior spaces; daycare outdoor play in relation to daycare indoor play, water features and stormwater detention and recirculation, and outdoor study areas that mirror successful nuances of studying indoors. Trees grown by the UBC Botanical Gardens were replanted in heritage orchard patterns as a nod to the site’s past form, complemented by a coalesce of seating, flowering plants, and an uncomplicated paving strategy.
The success of Orchard Commons emphasizes the significance of placemaking – especially within a community-centric setting such as the campus – where students are invited to unwind, connect, and feel a sense of ownership and imprint within their schools’ landscape blueprint.
