HUB Mall is a combined shopping mall and student residence.
HUB has often been likened to a skyscraper turned on its side. By day it resembles a living wall; its sunlit interior is a centre of vitality on campus. At night, the great windows exude light from the building's heart, while a motley of bedroom windows pierces its concrete flanks. Bernard Wood, when he was president of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada; pointed to HUB as a "well known" demonstration that "low-rise, high-density housing can provide an adequate alternative to high-rises, with perhaps more desirable sociological implications."
The innovative design that prompted these remarks was provided by Toronto architects Jack Diamond and Barton Myers in association with Richard Wilkin of Edmonton. Diamond and Myers; who were also the prime consultants for the University's long-range development plan, had first attracted attention for their lively renovation of Yorkville Square in Toronto. In designing HUB, they once again combined old ideas and new, and also kept a close eye on the student lifestyle. The housing units provide tenants the privacy of their own cooking and bathroom facilities — a departure from traditional dorms — while features such as windowed stairwells and shutters opening from the housing units out into the commercial arcade encourage openness and a sense of community.
Four city blocks in length, construction of HUB Mall commenced in 1971. Unique in Canada, HUB Mall has 54 shops and services and can accommodate 838 students within its residence. With plenty of seating and six lounges throughout, HUB Mall is a wonderful place to meet friends, relax and soak up the energy of campus life. Whatever service you need or ethnic food you desire, you will find it all at HUB Mall. Just browse our mall directory for a list of our current merchants.
The roof over HUB Mall is being replaced and construction should be completed in early 2011. The Mall is open for business during construction and we are involved in the safety of our merchants and students on site.
http://www.ualberta.ca/ALUMNI/history/buildings/97authub.htm
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/hubmall/
