Trottier Observatory: Experiencing the mysteries of the universe from BC’s Lower Mainland

On top of Burnaby Mountain at the east end of Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) quadrangle, there is a place for exploring the night skies. Named after Dr. Howard Trottier, a retired SFU Physics professor, The Trottier Observatory’s concrete dome and adjacent Science Courtyard serve as a space that celebrates space exploration, art, and science. This is one of the few barrier-free observatories in the country.

Kasian collaborated with Ian McLellan Consulting and PWL Partnership.

Kasian’s charge was to create a space that was subtle enough during the day, so as not to interfere with a busy campus, but that comes alive at night, facilitating exploration, study, and community.

Finding the right site was our first challenge. We needed a place that was off the main path of foot traffic but was still intuitively accessible, had no visual impediments to the vast skies above.

Typically, observatories have ramps and stairs centered around one big telescope. SFU wanted a barrier-free experience, so users could effortlessly approach the telescope platform. This required some innovation.

We shifted the observatory along its linear axis to avoid traffic, while opening the observatory park on the east, west, and south sides for viewing.

The interior of the Trottier Observatory is simple cast-in-place concrete walls that surround the telescope, serving as an environmental shelter.

There’s no heating or cooling, so as not to interfere with the telescope’s function. The metal Ash Dome roof rotates with the telescope, capturing as much of the sky as possible.

To address the barrier-free challenge, we worked with Planewave Instruments to reconfigure the telescope. The result is a telescopic eye piece adaptation (similar to a periscope) unique to the Trottier Observatory. The stairless, rampless interior is completely flat, fits a university class of 30 people, and provides easy access to the telescope.

This observatory enriches SFU’s physics program, academics, and culture, and offers new opportunities to learn about astronomy.

The Trottier Observatory won the 2017 Canadian Society of Landscape Architects National Award of Excellence.

“The process was open, engaging, explorative, collaborative and fun. The end product was a public observatory that works beautifully – both technically and aesthetically. Its surroundings are captivating and beautiful (especially at night).” – Ian McLennan, Project client advisor