University of Saskatchewan wins five awards at Saskatchewan Masonry Institute ceremony

Saskatoon - The University of Saskatchewan won several awards at the Saskatchewan Masonry Institute's recent masonry design awards ceremony in Regina, which recognize the achievements of architects, engineers, designers, builders, and owners for their use of masonry in construction.

By University Communications

Among the awards the U of S received was the Presidential Masonry Design Award for the D Wing of Health Sciences. The building was honoured for its imaginative and creative use of masonry which includes its dolomite limestone veneer and sawn-face Tyndall stone exterior trim and window surrounds, as well as the interior use of elements like thin Tyndall stone veneer and ground face masonry units. Together, the use of masonry provides for visual experience that closely links the building to existing architecture on campus.
"Application of masonry materials throughout the University of Saskatchewan campus has been a consistent design feature for over a century," said Colin Tennent, university architect and associate vice-president, facilities management division.
"Masonry, in its many forms, speaks to our commitment to the values of durability and quality of materials. It has also become a metaphor that captures the enduring commitment the university has to the highest level of knowledge creation and scholarship."
Awards of Excellence also went to the College Quarter student residences in the multiple unit dwelling masonry design category, and to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in the renovation and addition masonry design category. In the same category, the Place Riel addition received an Award of Merit and the Heating Plant expansion received honourable mention.
"While we value other materials in our architectural expressions, masonry has contributed to the remarkable Collegiate Gothic ensemble that has been readily identified with the University of Saskatchewan by such esteemed bodies as the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and the international Association of University Architects,"
Tennent said.
"We are truly honoured by the recognition bestowed through these awards by the Saskatchewan Masonry Institute."
Photographs of these award-winning projects are available.
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For more information, contact:
Val Szydlowski, Communications Manager
Facilities Management Division
(306) 966-8448
val.szydlowski@usask.ca