Article courtesy of the Journal of Commerce

VANCOUVER - A Vancouver arts institution has a new home. The Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver opened its new campus on Sept. 5.The school, founded 92 years ago, has moved from its former location on Granville Island to the east side of downtown Vancouver.The building, designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, spans 26,700 square metres and is comprised of program areas connected by a light-filled atria with dedicated studios for digital media, virtual reality design, 3-D production, robotics, industrial design and other related disciplines, explains a release."The building's design creates a multitude of places both indoors and out for informal gathering, presentation, making and remaking, which is at the heart of Emily Carr's multidisciplinary arts learning," said Diamond Schmitt Architects principal Donald Schmitt in a statement. "The needs and collaborative spirit of students and faculty inform the fundamental principles of the architecture."The team behind the construction project, which was built on a public-private partnership model, included Chernoff Thompson Architects, the British Columbia provincial government and EllisDon Construction."The university's emphasis is on innovation, new ideas and new practices that add value to Canadian and B.C. culture, industry and the arts in general," said Emily Carr University president and vice-chancellor Dr. Ron Burnett.