McEwan Architecture

McEwen School of Architecture, Laurentian University David Warne, while at LGA Architectural Partners, played a key role in the design of the McEwen School of Architecture at Laurentian University in Sudbury. Completed in 2017, this innovative 72,000 ft² facility combines the adaptive reuse of two historic Canadian Pacific Railway buildings with two new wings—a steel-and-concrete studio block and a cross-laminated timber library. These four structures are arranged around a central courtyard, connected by above-ground walkways and centered on a ceremonial fire pit, fostering collaboration and community. Featuring exposed timber, steel framing, visible building systems, and panelized “skin-and-bones” construction, the school serves as a living laboratory that weaves together Indigenous culture, northern ecology, climate-responsive design, and advanced fabrication. As Canada’s first new architecture school in four decades, McEwen revitalized downtown Sudbury and earned acclaim for its innovative use of mass timber and sustainability-driven design.