Observation Assignment: A Map of Campus

 

After attempting to draw a basic map of the Capilano University campus, I realized my visualization of the campus was severely limited. My map is essentially an aerial view of the area of Capilano University that I am most familiar with. This area is the main courtyard between the Fir, Cedar, and Library buildings. I quickly filled the entire page with my vision of this area and realized I couldn’t picture a view of the Birch building from the front, therefore leaving half the building off the page. The Bosa and Dogwood buildings are excluded entirely because I have never spent any time in those two buildings, picturing them was near impossible.

After drawing the map, I walked through campus the following day trying to compare what I had drawn and what my actual experience of being on campus is like. Every day I walk from the bus loop, down the walkway, and towards the library. This is the most familiar area to me. I spend more time in the library than anywhere else on campus and it’s the most important place for me. Walking into it and up to the second floor, I realized that I value the second-floor space in the library more than any other space on campus. It’s a place where I can focus, reflect, study, and be at peace. I’m not a visual artist and I’m barely capable of even knowing where to start when it comes to drawing. Looking at my map, I realize I wasn’t able to outline the importance of the library space to me. Walking through the space allowed me to contemplate the feeling of comfort it gave me and I became more observant of all the various happenings in the library. From the chatter on the first floor and students interacting with one another to the concentration and silence on the second floor. These things make me feel truly at home on campus.

Spatial divisions occur between the main courtyard and the Birch building. I remember having trouble visualizing this area as I generally walk through this area very absentmindedly. Walking through it the after drawing the map, I paid close attention to the space, noticing the laid-back atmosphere as I passed the CSU lounge and the places to sit outside between the Arbutus building and the library. I don’t think I ever paid attention to the vibe in this area but it’s the main route for students and the constant movement makes the space vital for the school atmosphere. It provides a sense of connection between all the buildings and the happy interactions between students in the CSU lounge give the university its character. There’s a complete freedom of movement in this area of the campus, one can watch teachers, students, employees, and guests pass through this area endlessly all day.

Activities are classified by space throughout campus. In the main courtyard, there’s a social and happy atmosphere in the smoker’s section. An activity that has so much negative energy around it is accepted here and people are free to not be judged for their actions. Observing this and considering it for the first time, I recognized how important it is to have a campus that doesn’t judge people. It makes it easier for everyone to operate without worrying about how they’re perceived. Other areas of the school are areas for relaxation. I mentioned the CSU lounge, but another important space is the cafeteria. It’s an open area with lots of windows designated for eating, but when I spent time contemplating the area for this assignment I understood how it functions as much more. It’s the main entrance to the campus, bustling with activity and chatter. People are laid back, actively conversing, sharing food, studying, and being a part of their university. When newcomers step into our university for the first time they get to see and feel this atmosphere immediately. It’s a vital part of the campus.

A specific area I never really noticed until doing this exercise is the children’s centre. I walked by this building and gazed through the fence to find young kids running around and playing. It immediately made me smile and made me consider how that adds to the atmosphere of the school. The children look curiously out at all the students coming and going, wondering what we’re doing and who we are. We look at them having fun and, personally, I can’t help but smile. It adds a frivolity and calmness to our campus, making our stressful lives feel less stressful for a moment.

The last thing I considered is how all the buildings and spaces are organized. An important aspect of our campus is that it’s relatively small. All the buildings are close together and it doesn’t take much time to get from one area of the campus to another. I think this is what makes our school create such a calm and connected atmosphere. It’s nestled between densely forested areas and students move freely through each space, interacting with nature and each other without even consciously knowing. This is the overarching observation I made from this exercise. Understanding how interconnected the campus is helped me to decipher my interaction and role within it.