5.2 Public Realm Framework

5.2.1. PLACE MAKING

At its heart, urban design incorporates a “people first” design
philosophy. This philosophy promotes healthy and socially
interactive communities. Successful campuses include
vibrant places, with a strong sense of identity, and are integral
to community life and the public realm.

PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY STREETS AND CORRIDORS

The urban form promotes mobility for the site and respects
the pedestrian environment by providing corridors that are
designed to limit interactions with vehicular traffic, supporting
a compact walkable campus structure. The master plan aims to
maintain this environment as it already exists at the Castlegar,
Tenth Street and Silver King campuses. Parking has been
located to the periphery of the site with pedestrian networks
on the interior of the site. These networks can be strengthened
through a focus on accessibility as well as landscaping and
surface treatments, furniture and lighting features.

Where the Castlegar Campus can also improve is its universal
accessibility and in the linkages beyond the campus to the City
of Castlegar. Separation of pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular
traffic at the larger scale will support a safer environment for

staff and students.

Central Student Gathering Space

48 SELKIRK COLLEGE - CAMPUS MASTER PLAN 2020-2035

CENTRAL STUDENT SPACE

Asense of community ina campus is fostered by social, cultural
and recreational activities. Central spaces are confluences
where students and activities are united. A mosaic of activities
is most effective when diverse services are integrated among
each other providing structure and resources. The centre
of these spaces flourish with activity and taper into the
campuses fringes.

The Campus Master Plan recognizes the connecting corridors
at the Castlegar Campus that act as the main axis and should
be a focal point to activate space and cultivate student
culture. As the campus develops, Selkirk College needs to
support student spaces by creating more diversity in the
space provided. This includes creating group meeting areas,
quiet study areas as well as maintaining the loud active spaces
like The Pit.

At both the Victoria Street Campus (KSA) and the Tenth Street
Campus, student gathering and community space is tucked
away and does not support a shared community space.

At Patenaude Hall, reorienting the building entry will support
an obvious community space that can link the various
programs that are supported in this building.

At the Victoria Street (KSA) Campus, the nature of the building
supports smaller student areas within their various program
areas. The introduction of student space as noted above would

be a larger intervention that would require a culture change.

INDIGENIZATION

In support of a“people first” design philosophy, Selkirk College
has developed a focused plan, Our Journey Together: Land, Life,
Learning, Indigenization Plan 2019 - 2024. As it relates to the
public realm framework, this mandate can be infused in the
design approach through signage on campus, designated
space and the orientation of classrooms.

Existing currently are the Gathering Place at the Castlegar
Campus and designated circle in the Silver King Commons

Building.