First subway stations for York University and the City of Vaughan to transform transit and future development in the region as part of the Spadina line extension; Will improve transit access, generate development opportunities

Arup provided project management and multidisciplinary design team leadership services for York University and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre stations as part of $3.18bn Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension

TORONTO, Dec. 20, 2017 /CNW/ -- Arup, an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants and technical specialists, celebrates the opening of the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) and York University (YU) stations on Toronto's Line 1 subway extension. Arup served as prime consultant for the two new TTC stations providing comprehensive multidisciplinary engineering and consulting services. The architectural designs were by Grimshaw Architects on the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station, and Foster + Partners on the York University Station. Adamson Associates Architects are architect of record on both stations.

The Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension project is a six-station, 8.6-km extension of the Line 1 extension connects from the current Sheppard West Station, northwest through York University, and north into York Region. It represents the Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) first subway expansion crossing the municipal boundary of Toronto into the 905 region.

These are the first subway stations for the City of Vaughan and York University. The stations offer direct, rapid access to central Toronto and the wider region with significant benefits to the ongoing development and growth of York University and creation of a new urban centre at Vaughan.

"We at Arup are always pleased to design and deliver projects that help modernize and transform the cities are located and work in," says Andrew McAlpine, Principal, and leader of Arup's Canadian operations. "This subway extension and these two stations will provide efficient, accessible rail transport to support the burgeoning growth and competitiveness of this region. Just as importantly, this new infrastructure will improve the commuting experience and quality of life for many thousands of people every day."

Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station

Located just north of and extending under Highway 7, on the west side of the recently relocated Millway Avenue, VMC Station will serve and help catalyze the growth of a new mixed-use downtown precinct. The curving shell form of the entrance pavilion brings light to the concourse and platforms below while a sweeping public artwork within utilizes mirrored surfaces on the ceiling to enhance the lighting and add an element of movement.

"Grimshaw envisioned the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Subway station not only as an investment in infrastructure that would unlock development in the area, but also offer commuters a more visually engaging journey.  Utilizing natural light and a captivating public art installation to create a sense of place, we endeavored to create a memorable station to elevate the daily commuter's experience," says Juan Porral, Partner at Grimshaw Architects.

Fast facts on VMC Station:

• Provides 143,000ft² of intermodal transit services
• Exceeds Canada's National Energy Code requirements for energy performance by 40% and meets sustainability standards comparable to those required for LEED Silver certification
• Serves as a transportation hub, with direct connections to the VIVA Bus Transitway on Highway 7, and the new York Region Transit bus terminal and passenger pick-up and drop-off directly to the north. Future-proofing measures include potential to connect directly to new adjacent developments and in the long term a possible extension of the line north of VMC
• The total structure is almost as long as the CN tower is high.
• The domed entrance building integrates a mirrored ceiling art installation by Paul Raff Studio, that captures the drama of moving passengers and changing light conditions.

York University Station

YU is located at the centre of the York University's Keele Campus. The swooping roof of the entrance building provides a focal point and bounds the east end of the Harry W. Arthurs Common. A terraced landscaped light scoop provides external views from and draws daylighting into to the below ground concourse level of the station, which is animated by a bold V column structure.

"Our design for the new York University Station is a response to its gateway location on the University Campus with its sculptural form and a landscaped scoop bringing light to the spacious concourse, and providing pleasant external views. It brings together threads from our previous work on subways at Canary Wharf in London and the Bilbao Metro in Spain where we have considered the public spaces around it, the visual connections inside, natural ventilation and the use of natural light to guide passengers intuitively down to platform level. With the active artwork of Jason Bruges this station aims to provide a more engaging passenger experience and to bring joy to the daily commute," says James McGrath, partner at Foster + Partners.

Fast facts on York University Station:

• Provides transportation to and from the campus for 40,000 daily commuters.
• Will help displace up to 1600 busses serving the central campus each day, with significant reduction in CO2 emissions, travel times, and traffic congestion.
• Offers 26 short term bicycle parking spaces
• Exceeds Canada's National Energy Code requirements for energy performance by 40%
• Integrated into the architecture is a dynamic LCD artwork by Jason Bruges Studio, activated by trains passing through the station.

Arup provided project management and design team leadership for the stations, including civil, geotechnical, structural, facades, lighting, mechanical, electrical, communications, plumbing, fire services, fire engineering and environmental and sustainability disciplines. 

Arup's work on the Toronto-York Spadina Subway line is just one of several high-profile engineering projects that the firm is involved with across Canada. The station at York University is Arup's third recent major project on the campus, adding to the Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence and the CIBC Athletics Stadium. Other projects include an innovative, multidisciplinary design Edmonton Valley Line LRT, the largest infrastructure project in Edmonton's history; the new Champlain Bridge corridor project in Montreal, one of the largest infrastructure projects in North America; and a new cancer centre at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary.

About Arup
Arup provides planning, engineering, design, and consulting services for the most prominent projects and sites in the built environment. Since its founding in 1946, the firm has consistently delivered technical excellence, innovation, and value to its clients, while maintaining its core mission of shaping a better world. The firm opened its first North American office over 30 years ago and its first Canadian office in 1999, and now employs 1,400 people in the Americas. The firm's employee-ownership structure promotes ongoing investment in joint research to yield better outcomes that benefit its clients and partners. Visit Arup's website, www.arup.com, and the online magazine of Arup in the Americas, doggerel.arup.com, for more information.

About Grimshaw
Grimshaw was founded by Sir Nicholas Grimshaw in 1980. The practice became a Partnership in 2007 and operates worldwide with offices in New York, London, Doha, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne and Sydney employing over 500 staff. Grimshaw's international portfolio covers all major sectors, and has been honored with over 200 international design awards.

The practice is dedicated to the deepest level of involvement in the design of their buildings in order to deliver projects which meet the highest possible standards of excellence. The company's work is characterized by strong conceptual legibility, innovation and a rigorous approach to detailing, all underpinned by the principles of humane, enduring and sustainable design. Find out more at www.grimshaw.global

About Adamson Associates Architects
Adamson Associates Architects is a leading architectural practice, noted for its innovative design and technical expertise. The firm offers a full range of architectural, planning, interior and urban design services to a wide range of clients ? commercial, institutional, cultural, retail, hospitality, residential, entertainment and transportation ? in both the private and public sectors. Established in 1934 in Toronto, Canada, today our team functions as a fully integrated practice that is global in reach with a staff of more than 400 dedicated professionals working from offices in Toronto, Canada, New York, Los Angeles, and London, England. Under the progressive leadership of our ten principals, we continue to advance our design, project management and technical expertise in order to remain at the forefront of our profession. To learn more about our firm, please visit: www.adamson-associates.com

About Foster + Partners
Foster + Partners is a global studio for architecture, urbanism and design, rooted in sustainability, which was founded fifty years ago in 1967 by Norman Foster. Since then, he and the team around him have established an international practice with a worldwide reputation for thoughtful and pioneering design, working as a single studio that is both ethnically and culturally diverse. The studio integrates the skills of architecture with engineering, both structural and environmental, urbanism, interior and industrial design, model and film making, aeronautics and many more ? our collegiate working environment is similar to a compact university. These diverse skills make us capable of tackling a wide range of projects, particularly those of considerable complexity and scale. Design is at the core of everything that we do. We design buildings, spaces and cities; we listen, we question and we innovate.

Contact: Rebecca Maloney
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SOURCE Arup