<> .fe-65f4a2b0e50f853acef1f38b { --grid-gutter: calc(var(--sqs-mobile-site-gutter6vw) - 11.0px); --cell-max-width: calc( ( var(--sqs-site-max-width1500px) - (11.0px * (8 - 1)) ) / 8 ); display: grid; position: relative; grid-area: 1/1/-1/-1; grid-template-rows: repeat(5,minmax(24pxauto)); grid-template-columns: minmax(var(--grid-gutter)1fr) repeat(8minmax(0var(--cell-max-width))) minmax(var(--grid-gutter)1fr); row-gap: 11.0px; column-gap: 11.0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-x: clip; } @media (min-width: 768px) { .background-width--inset .fe-65f4a2b0e50f853acef1f38b { --inset-padding: calc(var(--sqs-site-gutter) * 2); } .fe-65f4a2b0e50f853acef1f38b { --grid-gutter: calc(var(--sqs-site-gutter4vw) - 11.0px); --cell-max-width: calc( ( var(--sqs-site-max-width1500px) - (11.0px * (24 - 1)) ) / 24 ); --inset-padding: 0vw; --row-height-scaling-factor: 0.0215; --container-width: min(var(--sqs-site-max-width1500px)calc(100vw - var(--sqs-site-gutter4vw) * 2 - var(--inset-padding) )); grid-template-rows: repeat(10,minmax(calc(var(--container-width) * var(--row-height-scaling-factor))auto)); grid-template-columns: minmax(var(--grid-gutter)1fr) repeat(24minmax(0var(--cell-max-width))) minmax(var(--grid-gutter)1fr); } } .fe-block-030fd027e0f65b1faa87 { grid-area: 1/2/6/10; z-index: 0; @media (max-width: 767px) { } } .fe-block-030fd027e0f65b1faa87 .sqs-block { justify-content: flex-start; } .fe-block-030fd027e0f65b1faa87 .sqs-block-alignment-wrapper { align-items: flex-start; } @media (min-width: 768px) { .fe-block-030fd027e0f65b1faa87 { grid-area: 2/2/11/19; z-index: 0; } .fe-block-030fd027e0f65b1faa87 .sqs-block { justify-content: flex-start; } .fe-block-030fd027e0f65b1faa87 .sqs-block-alignment-wrapper { align-items: flex-start; } }

University of GuelphMcLaughin Library

Aboud & Associatesin collaboration with Prime Consultant J.L. Richards & Associates provided Landscape Architecture and Arboricultural services for the new University of Guelph McLaughlin Library entry plaza and integrating pathways to the main pedestrian spines on campus.

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<> .fe-65f4a2b4c3f4797356b5fb7b { --grid-gutter: calc(var(--sqs-mobile-site-gutter6vw) - 11.0px); --cell-max-width: calc( ( var(--sqs-site-max-width1500px) - (11.0px * (8 - 1)) ) / 8 ); display: grid; position: relative; grid-area: 1/1/-1/-1; grid-template-rows: repeat(48,minmax(24pxauto)); grid-template-columns: minmax(var(--grid-gutter)1fr) repeat(8minmax(0var(--cell-max-width))) minmax(var(--grid-gutter)1fr); row-gap: 11.0px; column-gap: 11.0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-x: clip; } @media (min-width: 768px) { .background-width--inset .fe-65f4a2b4c3f4797356b5fb7b { --inset-padding: calc(var(--sqs-site-gutter) * 2); } .fe-65f4a2b4c3f4797356b5fb7b { --grid-gutter: calc(var(--sqs-site-gutter4vw) - 11.0px); --cell-max-width: calc( ( var(--sqs-site-max-width1500px) - (11.0px * (24 - 1)) ) / 24 ); --inset-padding: 0vw; --row-height-scaling-factor: 0.0215; --container-width: min(var(--sqs-site-max-width1500px)calc(100vw - var(--sqs-site-gutter4vw) * 2 - var(--inset-padding) )); grid-template-rows: repeat(16,minmax(calc(var(--container-width) * var(--row-height-scaling-factor))auto)); grid-template-columns: minmax(var(--grid-gutter)1fr) repeat(24minmax(0var(--cell-max-width))) minmax(var(--grid-gutter)1fr); } } .fe-block-0cb197778d5681c7bf4f { grid-area: 1/2/38/10; z-index: 1; @media (max-width: 767px) { } } .fe-block-0cb197778d5681c7bf4f .sqs-block { justify-content: flex-start; } .fe-block-0cb197778d5681c7bf4f .sqs-block-alignment-wrapper { align-items: flex-start; } @media (min-width: 768px) { .fe-block-0cb197778d5681c7bf4f { grid-area: 1/2/17/13; z-index: 1; } .fe-block-0cb197778d5681c7bf4f .sqs-block { justify-content: flex-start; } .fe-block-0cb197778d5681c7bf4f .sqs-block-alignment-wrapper { align-items: flex-start; } } .fe-block-fb0790645b844dc4e4ba { grid-area: 27/2/48/10; z-index: 2; @media (max-width: 767px) { } } .fe-block-fb0790645b844dc4e4ba .sqs-block { justify-content: flex-start; } .fe-block-fb0790645b844dc4e4ba .sqs-block-alignment-wrapper { align-items: flex-start; } @media (min-width: 768px) { .fe-block-fb0790645b844dc4e4ba { grid-area: 1/15/14/26; z-index: 2; } .fe-block-fb0790645b844dc4e4ba .sqs-block { justify-content: flex-start; } .fe-block-fb0790645b844dc4e4ba .sqs-block-alignment-wrapper { align-items: flex-start; } }

Aboud & Associatesin partnership with Prime Consultant J.L. Richards & Associatesprovided landscape architecture and arboricultural services for the redevelopment of the University of Guelph McLaughlin Library entry plaza. The project aimed to improve pedestrian accessintegrate pathways to main campus walkwaysand enhance the overall user experience.

Located at the intersection of two major pedestrian spinesthe McLaughlin Library serves as the academic hub for studycollaborationresearchand scholarship at the University of Guelph. Originally designed in 1968 to accommodate 10,000 studentsthe library now supports over 23,000 students on campus. With peak traffic reaching up to 13,000 students at busy periodsthe library experiences 1.5 to 2 million visits annually.

The original entrance on Wineguard Walk was designed as a pinch point in the 1960swhich created an iconic urban design feature. Howeverby the 2020sthe entrance had become undersizedposing significant accessibility challenges and creating navigation difficulties for both pedestrians and vehicular traffic.

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In responsethe redesign of the entrance and entry plaza was carefully planned to respect the brutalist architectural of the building while providing a more human-scale experience.

Key Features of the McLaughlin Library Plaza Redevelopment:

  • Enhanced pedestrian access and integration with campus pathways

  • Retention of mature trees during construction

  • Improved plaza flexibility and accessibility

  • Human-scaled design with terraced seating areas

  • Concrete pavers reflecting the campus’s architectural

This project not only addressed functional challenges but also created a welcoming space that fosters social interaction and engagement for the University of Guelph community.

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University of Guelph Library new entrance with seating and landscaping
Purple flowers
University of Guelph Library new entrance from above.
University of Guelph campus from above showcasing the new library entrance
The old entrance of the University of Guelph library
University of Guelph campus from above
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