Year:                     2014
Location:            University of British Columbia
Co-designer:     Roy Cloutier

Designing a politically- and historically-charged Truth and Reconciliation Research Centre at the heart of a public university located on unceded First Nations territory is a contentious proposition.  In addition, designing an institution which addresses a problem created by a government requires a sensitive approach.  The design decreases the presence of the building by creating a small one-storey pavilion at the level of the main university mall.  The pavilion and podium top improve campus circulation and provide sheltered spaces to escape the soggy Vancouver weather.  Regular use of these exterior spaces invites exposure to the reconciliation process.  The podium houses all the functional spaces of the program on one floor with storage for reconciliation artifacts below that.