I'm finding more and more that I'm falling deeper in love with concrete. The look and feel have now captivated me for a couple of years. I never really gave it much attention until I began taking an interest in photography. I now love the way light saturates it and then creates amazing shadows and contrast. The pale concrete feels so complimentary to any surrounding colours.

A couple of weeks ago I was walking around the Simon Fraser University campus at the top of Burnaby Mountain. There SFU sits as a beacon in stark contrast from the surrounding green rain forests. The deftly positioned concrete slabs of Arthur Erickson's first mega structure was designed and built in 1964. Finally opening eighteen months later in September of 1965.

I found this small excerpt from SFU's website regarding the final design.

"Erickson's design was regarded as innovative in several key aspects. Its mountaintop location inspired Erickson to reject multi-story buildings, which he felt would look presumptuous. Instead, Erickson turned for inspiration to the acropolis in Athens and the hill towns of Italy, where the mountain was incorporated into the design itself. This concept is evident in many aspects of the university's design. For example, the manner in which the buildings are terraced to remain in harmony with the contours of the landscape and the emphasis upon the horizontal rather than the vertical expansion of the buildings themselves."

I'm really quite taken by the construction of this place. I love large structures and objects and I often find myself staring at them for long periods of time. This must be a fantastic place to go to school. Although I'll likely never attend. I do enjoy going up from time to time.

Please enjoy the following images, It was a fun process to showcase the two main areas.

-Broda