Materials

Paving

Paving material is one of the most important design considerations in the revitalization of the University's open spaces. The University currently uses a wide range of material, based on the permanence of the application, the location of the installation and the budget of the project.

The City of Toronto developed a standardized system for the reconstruction of St. George Street. Largely created of poured-in-place concrete and asphalt, the installation also includes precast pavers set onto concrete slabs as decorative features. There is not a standard for paving materials or design on other streets of the campus.

Stone and other natural materials are often associated with the classic image of campus pedestrian systems. Granite cobbles and fieldstone slabs in cut or random patterns are the most common of these images. With the exception of Woodsworth College and some areas around University College, the St. George Campus does not have a substantial amount of natural stone paving.

Recommendations

43. Material use should be consistent within the same district.

44. The palette of materials used in the St. George Street reconstruction should be continued in the future reconstruction of streets on the West Campus and the Harbord-Hoskin corridor.

45. The University should work with the City of Toronto to establish a palette of materials for the re-working of Queen's Park Crescent.

46. Consideration should be given to the use of natural stone paving in combination with poured-in-place finished concrete in the central open spaces and special features of the campus. Any natural material chosen should be available in suitable quantities, over an extended period of time, and be sourced locally.

47. Asphalt should not be considered as a permanent material for pedestrian systems and should only be used for temporary repairs.

48. Paving design should consider the longest possible life cycle available within the budget parameters.

Seating and Furniture

The addition of furnishings to all of the major open spaces will be an important enhancement to the campus environment. The recent addition of the steps to the front of Sidney Smith Hall and the planting edges along St. George Street show how seating can transform the image and use of a place.

The furnishings provided on campus should contribute to the overall feeling of the University as a special place. A standard set of site furnishings (e.g., bench, chair and table) should be selected and used in all new projects.

Walls and Fences

Walls and structured edges can make a very positive contribution to the campus landscape. The planting edges along St. George Street are an excellent example of dual use where a landscape feature is used for seating along the street.

In most cases, fences do not improve the character of the landscape of the campus. Where visual containment, direction of movement patterns or physical separation are required, a simple, continuous, low (1 metre) clipped hedge should be used.

50. New walls and edges should be of attractive and durable material, preferably natural stone, and should specifically exclude timbers, logs or dryset pre-cast blocks.

51. Wherever possible walls should include integral seating to animate the spaces.

52. Free standing walls should not obstruct visibility or create secluded corners that may compromise personal safety.

53. Fences should not be installed as features in the redesign of major open spaces and a program to remove existing non-historic fences should be undertaken.

Plant Material

Trees, shrubs, ground covers, sod, ornamental grasses, vines and perennial plants are highly visible elements that shape the campus landscape. Along with architecture, plant material forms and identifies open space, modifies microclimate and through scale, texture and seasonal colour brings beauty to the University grounds.

Most installed landscape on campus is created through individual design exercises rather than through a campus-wide planting design scheme. Investing in the Landscape is an opportunity to redirect the planting approach on campus to achieve five basic objectives:

• A significant increase in deciduous hardwood trees, both as specimens in the open landscape and in larger groupings, to establish a stronger structure of large trees on campus.
• The introduction of large coniferous trees in strategic locations to increase the diversity of the landscape and provide winter interest.
• A general reduction in the level of random foundation planting around and between the buildings on the campus.
• Gardens of hardy and prolific blooming perennials as permanent landscape features rather than annual flower plantings.
• The use of structured low hedges of consistent material in place of foundation plantings and fences.

Plantings require active management as they evolve to maturity, and eventually require replacement. Plants should be installed in conditions that are conducive to healthy, long term, vigorous growth. These conditions should include high quality soil, suitable soil depth on roof decks, irrigation, sufficient sunlight and levels of maintenance that allow the plantings to reach a mature state.

Irrigation must be considered as a necessary part of any new landscape installation.

54. The University should prepare a comprehensive planting program for the campus, including the Demonstration Sites presented in this Plan. Substantive planting should be introduced on a regular basis . Primary plantings should be established within all major open spaces to define the space, provide an appropriate sense of scale and bring a high scenic character to the campus. Major open spaces should be landscapes of landmark stature, distinct from plantings associated with specific buildings.

55. Plantings should emphasize large-scale tree cover consisting of deciduous hardwood species that provide variety in form, foliage and fall colour: and strategically located evergreens and plants with attractive winter appearance to enhance landscape quality throughout the year. Plant species should be selected with consideration for expanding biological diversity, hardiness and longevity.

56. All significant existing trees should be maintained in a healthy condition and protected during any campus planning exercise or development process. The University should consider adding personnel with experience in horticultural methods for large-scale urban landscapes and urban forestry to Operations and Services. Comprehensive turf management should be applied to major open spaces where playing fields are a part of the use program.

57. The University should ensure that plant layout and massing have regard for public and personal safety.

58. Mass plantings of hardy and prolific blooming perennials as bold accent plantings should be used in favour of annual bedding plants to create more permanent landscape features. Drought resistant ornamental grasses should be used as accent plantings and as a low maintenance groundcover.

59. All new landscape installations should include an irrigation component that incorporates the most recent technology in water conservation and efficient delivery methods, including the possible use of grey water and retained storm water.

Signage

The University is in the final stages of creating a new unified signage system for the campus to replace the various methods and designs currently used for identifying campus features. The new University sign system should be used to create any new signage for the open spaces of the campus. Signage has a direct relationship to Open Space Master Plan Recommendations 7 through 9, which deal with markers, gates, and entrances to the campus.

60. All new open space design projects should utilize the new University signage system for any naming, information or directional signage. Non-compliant signage should not be used.

61. Signage should be a component of the landscape design and integrated into walls, structures and planting plans, where possible.