AMO.d.sign | land.arch | University Ave, Toronto

Capstone Project Landscape Architecture

New University Avenue

This project includes two 36" x 72" design panels with a complimentary booklet that Aaron created with his final 3 months at the University of Guelph. It is his third attempt at creating a 3D model, and he built up the entire site. Submitted as is.

Nonetheless, University Avenue is overdue for a redesign as it is falling apart, inaccessible, and dangerous. Aaron used the site at various times of the day, noticing a considerable number of people taking refuge in the uninspiring site each night. It was important to not displace these people in the redesign, so he focused on creating places of refuge within the design, while still satisfying the needs of various other conflicts on the site.

Aaron focused on all uses between Front Street and College Street and proposed flexible islands that suited nearby businesses and services. He suggested Median U-Turns, reducing the size of the islands and large boulevards to add bike lanes, while increasing accessibility for pedestrians. All new planters with native plants and large volumes of soil will increase life expectancy and carbon storage for urban vegetation.

The full study is available here

University Avenue Site Discovery

Client /

SEDRD

Role /

Student

Team/

Aaron O'Neil

Advisors/

Mansoor Ma

Nadia Amoroso

Sean Kelly

Year /

2017

Site Discovery Booklet	Design Panel 1 From the gateway to the filtration centrepiece, this panel shows the new designs for the first half of islands. There are strategically placed Median U-Turns, sculptures, and storm water management facilities.	Design Panel 2 From a place of refuge to the final gateway, this panel shows the new designs for the last half of islands. There are strategically placed shelters and aromatherapy and fitness stations near the hospitals.
Close Up - Analyses The Figure Ground, Massing Model, and important Landmarks were analyzed together in this section.	Venues This island is across from the hotels, it offers a place for the hotels to use as venue space. The TTC Vent was replaced with undulating grates to offer more seating in the area and make the vents more appealing.	Rough Work This was created within the first week after Aaron submitted the booklet and began planning the design panels.
Entrance Island and Gateway Toronto is well known for futuristic architecture, these crystal lighting features are a main theme in the whole design. This gateway island introduces users to local art. Podiums that display seasonal sculptures are placed throughout the site.	Rough Planting Design Aaron created a planting plan for the Aromatherapy garden across from the hospital. The goal was to create a symphony of aromas, and the gardens are designed as sound waves. The space is lowered with various kinds of buffers, vegetation, sounds, and water features to drown out the sounds of the urban environment.	Aromatherapy Garden The only annuals used on site are mature tropicals that go into storage over winters and reused each year. The remaining flowers in this section are lavender, hyssop, wisteria, and bee balm. There is a textured wall for water to run down, hammocks, and security bollards to increase safety.
Rough Work - Dining Island	Swing Area Inspired by the swings in Boston, Aaron suggested a similar amenity space.	SWOT Analysis
Site Visit Photos University Avenue has reached the end of it's economic life. Here are some of the photos Aaron took on site during his site discovery. The majority of photos used in the discovery were taken by Aaron. It documents a lot of hazards, design flaws, and degradation.	SWOT Analysis	At public presentation
Rough Work	Study Intro	Site Analysis This is a visual analysis of the site.
Homelessness This is a photo he took of someone using the park as refuge.