The Design

Encourage and foster innovation by University of Waterloo faculty, students, and staff through:

• World-class, state-of-the-art mathematics and computer science research labs
• New computing systems and technologies to test the limits of math and computer science

Indigenous Perspective:

• Weaving both indigenous values and modern mathematical concepts holistically into the building design.

Attract and retain faculty, staff, students, and industry partnerships:

• A mix of shared and private office spaces with natural light
• Dedicated space for tech demonstrations and meeting space

Indigenous Perspective:

• Curvilinear design and public spaces inspired by nature designed to create a welcoming feeling.

Provide academic and social "collision" spaces that encourage diverse collaboration through a wide range of design features including:

• Collaborative, modern meeting and breakout rooms of various sizes
• Multi-use informal classroom spaces
• Multiple lounges and inviting lobbies
• Gender-inclusive and universal washrooms

Indigenous Perspective:

• Working with indigenous groups, acknowledging their land and values
• Introduce curves and binary patterns into the design
• Design is aligned with the directions of sunrise and sunset
• Use the power of nature to provide passive solar heating and natural ventilation
• Considerations given to locations of assembly, and ability to smudge

M4 will be designed and built with the future in mind and include the following sustainable features:

• Reuse of existing DC office wing
• Natural Ventilation Chimney Exhaust Louvre
• Passive Cooling Design
• Waterless Plumbing Fixtures
• Heat Recovery Chiller
• Energy Recovery Ventilator
• Metering
• Co2 Sensors
• PV Panels

Indigenous Perspective:

• Acknowledging the beauty and primacy of nature, like passive solar heating and natural ventilation.

Maintain and enhance the connectivity with the campus at large and within the Faculty of Math by:

• Connecting the DC and MC buildings and creating a new Math Quad
• Equitable and inclusive design to ensure the building is accessible to the entire community

Indigenous Perspective:

• Flow of circulation and open public spaces creating a hub for interaction

Preserve and enhance current green spaces as much as possible by:

• Creating a new Math Quad with enhanced landscaping and natural features
• Increased variety of native and sustainable plant species
• Intentionally designed sections that allow for full sun exposure as well as shaded areas
• The tree housing the red-tailed hawk nest near MC is not in the scope of construction/demolition; impact should be minimal

Indigenous Perspective:

• Focused on nature, and preserving campus green space.