School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo

Waterloo, Ontario

RDHA has led the architectural evolution of the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry from its inception in 1974 through to its major facility expansion in 2009. The school’s academic curriculum is intrinsically linked to professional clinical practice. The architecture negotiates a dual program, functioning simultaneously as an advanced research institution and a public-facing optometry clinic that serves as a live pedagogical environment.

The 125,000-square-foot, three-story addition completed in 2009 introduces a 125-seat tiered lecture theatre, a specialized medical library, decentralized group study suites, a student cafeteria, a public museum, and a state-of-the-art laser eye surgery clinic. Conceptually rooted in the faculty's focus on the science of optics and vision, the building envelope acts as a material exploration of light transmission. The facade utilizes a precise composition of clear, tinted, and translucent fritted glass assemblies, overlaid with applied geometric graphics that modulate daylight, glare, and thermal gain while visually manifesting the school's academic identity.