The Trottier Observatory and Science Courtyard’s vision unfolded largely due to the Trottier Brothers commitment to science education and public outreach. PWL Partnership was the prime consultant for the project located near the iconic SFU Quadrangle on a nondescript open space by SFU’s central spine. As the prime consultant, PWL worked closely with Howard Trottier, a SFU physics professor and Starry Night program lead, faculty and a diverse stakeholder group to make this project a reality for students and more importantly the broader community. The project program included an integration with the Eriksonian grid and the vernacular of the campus, an observatory hidden within the landscape, and a courtyard where scientific learning and a connection to nature could be encouraged. This courtyard developed into a public open space that has captured the spirt of place and learning.

The Trottier Observatory and Science Courtyard has become an important community space for the Starry Nights Program to facilitate and invite learning. This project captures the spirt both in daytime and more interestingly at night. The landscape experience not only transforms from day to night but season to season as the night sky shifts. During the daytime, this space is used by the campus and UniverCity residence community as a hangout, garden retreat and learning centre. Focusing on innovation, every detail was designed to encourage exploration and discovery, letting curiosity and observations reveal information in new ways as the public moves through the space while representing fundamentals of astronomy and physics. The more time one spends in the courtyard the more discoveries and curiosities arise as each detail offers a functional purpose, discrete information or metaphorical reference to science and the universe. The story line plinth speaks to the origins of the universe and illustrates logarithmic scales of the human body and space. The Courtyard is home to old and new technological methods of observing the night sky. By using benched slopes and exposed concrete, both of strong SFU vernacular, to create berm walls, ancient observatory methods are available to anyone to observe the night sky. Adjacent to this is a new observatory building, which houses a telescope and accessories, representing new technology. Black star benches signify dark stars and radial planting represent the orbit of the planets within our solar system. Screens that hide the Observatory are systematically placed to symbolize a key component in quantum theory in which objects can appear solid yet are spaced apart. The Courtyard transforms into an interactive outdoor classroom, inspiring people to connect with the natural world, as day turns to night.

The Trottier’s and SFU’s vision was exceeded as the Courtyard became an engaging, meaningful and conceptually rich space with intentional experiences for inspiring curiosity in science, nature and the night sky at a scale previously unforeseen. When Starry Night events are held, people from all over metro Vancouver make their journey up the mountain to experience the night sky landscape. It has surpassed all expectations and will remain a significant space at SFU for future public scientific exploration.

Project website: pwlpartnership.com/case-studies/trottier-observatory-science-courtyard

Prime Consultant/ Landscape Architects: PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc.
Sub-Consultants
Architect: Kasian
Electrical Engineer: Integral Group
Mechanical Engineer: Integral Group
Structural Engineer: Bush, Bohlman & Partners LLP
Contractor: Westpro Infrastructure
Specialist: Ian McLennan
Specialist: Howard & Lorne Trottier

Project + Image Copyright: PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc. + SFU Creative Services

Project location: 643A Science Rd, Burnaby, BC

Design year: 2013-2014

Year Built: 2014-2015

Manufacturer of urban equipment: Landscape Forms, LumenPulse, TDH Experiential Fabricators