One may think that a pub and grill and a post-secondary learning centre do not have much common ground, however in the case of the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) Building K Campus, that is exactly what they have. Formerly known as Finnegan’s Pub and Grill, UFV purchased this building as part of their campus extension to provide much needed additional space for the increased population. The first thing you will notice about this renovated space is the visually stimulating interior colour palette and extensive use of environmental graphics. This helped cultivate a dynamic and interactive learning environment for the students. CTA worked collaboratively with the Users, modular wall supplier, and the design team to come up with an innovative and fast track design to meet the specific planning and schedule requirement of the university. As part of the renovation, CTA created classrooms and student spaces within the existing space. The main feature of this building is the incorporation of Pod Classroom, which provides a comprehensive blended learning platform that integrates conventional classroom learning with technologically-mediated resources to enhance student learning experience and engagement. The building also contains an Active Learning Centre which is also open for use by community.

A purpose-designed medical sciences building, this project includes lecture theatres, laboratories and anatomy lab facilities for interactive learning. As the University of Victoria’s home for its portion of UBC’s undergraduate physician training program, the building was designed to facilitate distance medical education and research. Lectures can be broadcast between UBC, UNBC, and this facility in real time, enabling seamless collaboration across sites. The building’s flexible spaces accommodate a range of uses, including conventional lectures, small-group distance seminars, faculty offices, research laboratories, and animal care facilities. Sustainability was another key driver of the project. Strategies such as heat recovery systems, toilet flushing using wastewater from aquatic research, a high-performance building envelope, and the reuse of laboratory casework contributed to achieving a LEED Gold rating.