Moriyama Teshima Architects was proud to be present for the groundbreaking event held at the University of Guelph, kicking off construction of the new Honey Bee Research Centre (HBRC). Designers of the project, Diarmuid Nash (Partner-in-Charge), Olivia Keung (Project Manager), and Corey Brown (Architect), are seen here at the sod turning ceremony which took place last week.

Located within the botanical garden of the Guelph Arboretum, the HBRC will enhance connections to both the neighbouring University of Guelph campus as well as the Arboretum’s natural landscape and its existing integrated trail system. MTA also designed the nearby Ontario Agricultural College Centennial Arboretum Centre, which opened in 1974.

“The new facility will give the centre space to grow its engagement with apiarists, with community members interested in learning more about pollinators and honeybees, and with young people looking to be a part of positive change to support pollinators and to ensure a healthy environment and a safe food supply.”
– Dr. John Cranfield, Ontario Agricultural College

The new centre is envisioned as both a productive and social landscape that accommodates diverse programming, research, and events. Balancing the ecological functions of the site with educational programming, the grounds highlight the productivity of the land formally through cultivated agricultural plots and working hives. Read the full story here.