The York University Markham Campus (YUMC) will be the first University campus in Markham, allowing students to study in a state-of-the art campus setting. The first building will serve as a gateway to the new YUMC, accommodating a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs to meet the needs of York Region’s post-secondary community.

The building and site plan design derive from a series of architectural design principles, each of which supports and strengthens York President’s goals for the YUMC project: accessibility, connectedness, impact, and excellence.

As the first facility on campus, this building is one of connection, between the YUMC and Markham, between formal and informal spaces; and between all members of the York community.

Designed as a five-storey podium with five storey tower, the building form accommodates student programs at grade level, supports a welcoming and highly accessible entry from Enterprise Boulevard, and maximizes access to sun and natural light. Cantilevers and curves animate the building form and create fluid, interactive spaces supporting teaching and research within a vertical campus.

Our design establishes a strong campus identity for YUMC within the emerging Markham city-centre district. High floor to floor heights; permeability and transparency at grade levels; variegated patterns of vision glass and bronze anodized aluminum panels; deep building recesses at mid-levels and curved building lines in plan are among several features that distinguish the University building within its context.

The sloped campus commons provides an informal outdoor assembly space and focal point for the campus. At the first three levels, the building entrances integrate landscape areas with the building form, creating a continuous sequence of informal interior and exterior public spaces. Inside, ten floors of highly flexible teaching and learning spaces are clustered around a dynamic, multi-storey atrium. Commons areas are dotted throughout the building, providing spaces for students to study, meet, and collaborate.

The design of this highly accessible building defines a collegial academic community for York University within a series of interconnected, multi-storey spaces of gathering and interaction. YUMC will be landmark destination serving as a catalyst for future growth in the region and an inspiration for the next generation of post-secondary learning.