It’s quite a thrill when the NHL and MLB sign you to their teams to build luxurious wood-filled spaces for the professional athletes, but creating warm and home-like environments for young students on school campuses leaves us with an even better feeling.
The recent example we want to share is Queen’s University in Kingston, at the historic John Deutsch building.
This heritage structure has stood as an important part of campus life for nearly a century, having burned down in 1947 and then being rebuilt and expanded.
To bring a new vision to life, our team incorporated nearly 1,000 sheets of Canadian-sourced rift-cut white oak and extensive structural timber features.
The very complex and detailed millwork features a significant number of curved surfaces. Even the Corian countertops are skillfully curved by our teams, with solid surface integration of the wood. It’s a fantastic combination that’s very pleasing to the senses.
The project includes an 8-storey tower with more than 100 units, each outfitted with custom closets, shelving and workstations. At the base, a new three storey mixed-use facility was created, featuring a vibrant hub with study areas, a library, restaurants, and the reimagined Queen’s Pub.
As we all know, every university needs an iconic and memorable pub.
We’re very proud of our renovated spaces that balance warmth and precision with functionality and sense of belonging for our young men and women, many of whom are away from home for the first time.
BTW – a little history for you: John James Deutsch was born in 1911 on a farm in Saskatchewan and was one of 17 children!!! He was the only child to receive a formal education, and he did so at Queen’s University, where he later became Vice-Principal and then Principal from 1967-74.
We hope everyone at Queens enjoys the richness brought by the Canadian wood, and the craftsmanship needed to bring it all together at this globally respected institution.