Victor Cheung Portfolio of Works 2014 2015

VICTOR CHEUNG PORTFOLIO OF WORKS 2014 2015

ABOUT THIS PORTFOLIO This portfolio contains a sample of work from 2014 and 2015 from my first year at Ryerson University’s Bachelor in Urban and Regional Planning Program. During this period I developed a deep appreciate for the urban typology of streets, buildings, and public space. I try to convey this message throughout this portfolio.

The works in this portfolio are based on a study area in downtown Toronto Ontario. The study area is bounded by Gerrard St in the north, Parliament St to the east, Shuter St to the south, and Bay st to the west. Special attention is paid to the Ryerson University campus.

Contents 004 DISTRICTS 005 LAND USE 006 BLOCK TYPOLOGY 008 RYERSON SECTION 010 RYERSON ELEVATION 013 RYERSON BUILT FORM 014 RYERSON STREET PERSPECTIVES 016 RYERSON PEDESTRIAN STUDY 017 DUNDAS STREET SECTION

DISTRICTS Districts are relatively large sections of the city distinguished by a specific character.

The study area contains four distinctive districts. This portfolio focuses on Ryerson University.

GERRARD ST E GERRARD ST E

GOULD ST GOULD ST ST ST SHERBOURNE SHERBOURNE

DUNDAS ST E BAY ST BAY ST

JARVIS JARVIS ST ST

YONGE YONGE ST ST

ST ST PARLIAMENT PARLIAMENT

DUNDAS ST E

SHUTER ST SHUTER ST

Shopping District

Ryerson University

Garden District

Cabbage Town

Study Area

Shopping District Major Arterial

Ryerson University Collector

Garden District Local

Cabbage Town Pedestrianized Road

Study Area 1: 4600

Pedestrianized Road

1: 4600

Major Arterial

Collector

Local

QUEEN ST E QUEEN ST E

4

LAND USE Land use is a key determinant of urban morphology. Each land use has a characteristic building size, setbacks, and type.

These are the factors which help build the character of each street district.

GERRARD ST E GERRARD ST E

ST ST ONTARIO ONTARIO

GOULD ST GOULD ST

ST ST PARLIAMENT PARLIAMENT

27.2%

ST ST PEMBROKE PEMBROKE

Residential - low density Residential - low density Open space - parks, ravines, Open space - parks, ravines, natural areas natural areas

GEORGE ST ST GEORGE

ST ST DALHOUSIE DALHOUSIE

Residential - medium density Residential - medium density

JARVIS ST ST JARVIS

ST ST MUTUAL MUTUAL

SHUTER ST SHUTER ST

ST ST CHURCH CHURCH

BOND ST ST BOND

ST ST VICTORIA VICTORIA

YONGE ST ST YONGE

28%

STREET LANE VICTORIA VICTORIA STREET LANE

ST ST BAYBAY

Commercial - high density Commercial - high density (Office) (Office) Commercial - low density Commercial - low density (Office - Retail) (Office - Retail) Residential - high density Residential - high density

ST ST SHERBOURNE SHERBOURNE

DUNDAS ST E DUNDAS ST E

DUNDAS SQ DUNDAS SQ

ST ST BERKELEY BERKELEY

WALTON ST WALTON ST

Open space - playing fields, Open space -hydro playing fields, cemeteries, corridors cemeteries, hydro corridors Open space - pedestrian malls, Open space - pedestrian malls, squares squares QUEEN ST E Open space - parking QUEEN ST E Open space - parking

17.1%

Retail Retail

Institutional Institutional

Mixed Use Mixed Use - - Residential Commercial Commercial - Residential Mixed Use Mixed Use - - Industrial Commercial Commercial - Industrial

18.3%

Study Area Study Area

1: 4600 1: 4600

5

2.6% 2.7%

6

BLOCK TYPOGRAPHY Street pattern is a key determinant of walkability and legibility. They form the basis of how people interact with the built environment as they travel from location to location. A grid street network provides users with the ability to see a maximum amount places as they wander the area. As well, this network allows for excellent connectivity between locations as there are many paths and directions one can take when traveling.

The illustrations to the left provide an idea of the existing block structure in relation to the built form. A comparison of the building patterns in relation to the block patterns show a dense urban form with good street frontages which provide street users with quality opportunities to engage visually with the environment. The last illustration separates all blocks to display a sense of general continuity in block pattern.

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RYERSON UNIVERSITY SECTION Quality public spaces are a sought after feature in all places. Ryerson University is a downtown campus on the fringes of medium to high density residential and high density retail, commercial, and office. With land being such a commodity, quality public spaces can be hard to come by. Ryerson does not lack quality public spaces with quasi-public indoor spaces such as Kerr Hall, and the South Bond Building, and quality outdoor public spaces, including The Quad and Gould Street.

Kerr Hall North

The Quad

Gerrard St

Theatre School

8

Recreation and Athletics Centre

Kerr Hall So

One important aspect to creating a quality public space is giving a sense of enclosure to street users. Enclosure is a perceived sensorial value evoked by the ratio of height to width when experiencing streets widths and building heights. Gould Street, an important third place and pedestrian right-of-way, has a ratio of approximately 1:2 which is considered ideal.

outh

Heidelberg Centre

Gould St

South Bound Building

Dundas St

Oakham House

St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church

Bond Place

9

RYERSON UNIVERSITY ELEVATION O’Keefe House and the Ryerson Student Union Building are indicative of change from old to new. O’Keefe House was built in the 1850s while the Student Union Building was built in 2008. Both buildings are owned by Ryerson University and function as community hubs for students and locals. Located on Gould Street, the area in front of the Student Union Building is often the location of activist gatherings.

Ryerson Student Unio 10

on Building

O'Keefe House 11

RYERSON UNIVERSITY BUILT FORM A three dimensional illustrate provides an understanding of both the built form and land use in the study area. Ryerson University is a dense campus with a significant student population on a relatively small campus. For instance, compare Ryerson University to The University of Toronto.

Ryerson has approximately 4470 students per hectare versus University of Toronto, 665 students per hectare. Ryerson has established not just a institutional campus, but a functioning community with a mix institutional, residential, commercial, and open space uses.

12

Institutional Residential Commercial Parking Open Space

13

RYERSON PERSPECTIVES The intersection of Gould Street and Victoria Street is a significant street for the greater community and Ryerson students.

At this corner we find a nexus of street activity, recreation, gathering, and transportation. The focal point includes Lake Devo, the various boulders placed

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throughout the corner, and a mixture of informal and formal seating. Activating outdoor public spaces can be difficult in environments with colder winters. This problem is solved by filling Lake Devo with water in the winter to serve as an ice rink and a skate park in the summer.

15

PEDESTRIAN STUDY Ryerson University should, justifiably, be as pedestrianized as possible. A preliminary study was conducted on occurrences of j-walking along entry points into Ryerson University. Our survey demonstrates a justification for increased pedestrian amenities in areas with medium to high occurrences of j-walking. Specific actions include pedestrianization of streets or the implementation of shared space. In areas where there is more vehicle traffic, additional crosswalks may be justified.

GERRARD ST E

Pedestrian Right of Way Green Space and Plaza

GOULD ST

Areas of Mid-Block J-Walking

CHURCH ST

YONGE ST

High Occurrence

DUNDAS ST E

16

Medium Occurrence

DUNDAS ST E

Low Occurrence

1: 4600

DUNDAS STREET SECTION

PROPOSED Dundas st @ Bond st looking east

Providing safe opportunities for cycling as a mode of transportation has been proven to promote cycling. The street section is of Dundas Street at Bond Street looking east and illustrates the proposed and existing lane hierarchy. The proposed plan replaces one east bound lane with a two way protected cycling path leaving vehicle traffic to share the street car lane.

CURRENT Dundas st @ Bond st looking east 17

VICTOR CHEUNG v10cheung@ryerson.ca www.linkedin.com/in/victorfromvancouver