OVERVIEW
The McEwan School of Architecture sets itself apart in a number of key ways. First, it defines itself as a tri-cultural school. Alongside the official languages of English and French, the school integrates Indigenous design principles into the core of its ethos and programs; its faculty and student body boast French, English, Métis, and Anishinabek members, and the perspectives of Elders are included in community projects. Secondly, it emphasizes design for northern climates, including the Northern Ontario site of its Sudbury campus, and building sustainably and mostly with wood. Finally, it is the youngest accredited architecture school in the country, having been founded in 2013 – hence its undeniably fresh approach to the education.
In the Bachelor program, students take electives on the main Laurentian University campus, while Design Studio and other mandatory architecture courses are held at the McEwen School of Architecture, Laurentian’s downtown site, which was designed by LGA Architectural Partners. Students engage in a multitude of design-build projects on campus – including ice warming huts, birch bark canoes and saunas – and around the world. In the Master’s program, building with wood, design for climate change and digital fabrication are three areas of study for advanced graduate work, including a final design thesis. Two terms are devoted to co-operative education, placing students in design offices locally, nationally and internationally.
NOTABLE FACULTY
Patrick Stewart, Dr. Tammy Gaber (director)
