Status: COMPLETED September 2010 - April 2011
The continuing student traffic of McGill University has created a constant demand to improve space efficiency around both campuses. Planners, engineers, administrators and architects all face the challenge of how to use the space in an optimal way while keeping the historical presence of the university intact. The new ban on campus parking has created more space for pedestrians and cyclists, thus increasing the amount of people biking and walking to school on a daily basis. Currently, there are only 2,000 spots, which clearly aren’t sufficient because currently bikes are locked not only to bike racks but also to trees, fences, and signage. This surplus of bikes affects both the students’ campus life as well as the landscape.
Under the framework of our final year Mechanical Engineering Project, Mr. Radu Juster, Architect and Planner for Campus and Space Planning at McGill University, has approached us to design a high-density bicycle rack. The main outcome of this project is to reduce the footprint of a bicycle by half compared to the current bicycle parking solution. Equally as important is the aesthetic of the bicycle rack which must not interfere with the landscape. Our design will aid in making the campus more modern and sustainable while preserving the historical heritage of the campus.
For further information conerning this project, or to get in touch with its members, please contact the krista.houser [at] mcgill.ca (SPF Administration Team).
