In the 1970s, the entrance to Brock’s iconic Arthur Schmon Tower was home to a set of fountains. To mark Brock’s 60th anniversary, The Brock News is running a monthly series looking back at the University’s history through photos.
For decades, Brock University’s main entrance has played a key role in welcoming people to campus.
Just like the University, the space has transformed with time, from a focus on fountains and gardens to a modern gateway that bridges Brock’s past and future.
The main entrance has evolved from a purely outdoor space into a dynamic, modern hub that reflects the growth and progress of the institution.
In the 1970s, the entrance to Brock’s iconic Arthur Schmon Tower made quite the splash —literally. A set of fountains welcomed visitors, but on windy days, they had a habit of giving people an unintentional shower. The solution? The fountains were turned off, and in their place, a peaceful garden was planted, offering a more serene and less soggy welcome to students, staff and faculty.
Students pass the garden outside Brock University’s original front entrance, a serene replacement for the former fountains that once greeted visitors in the 1970s.
Despite these aesthetic updates, the entrance remained entirely outdoors, with the tower standing tall but somewhat disconnected from surrounding buildings. A ‘moat’ still visible today from the window near the tower Tim Hortons hints at the early design’s unique structural elements.
Fast forward to today, and the entrance to Brock University has been completely reimagined.
The Rankin Family Pavilion, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, has transformed the space into a two-storey, open-concept hub that seamlessly connects the Schmon Tower to the Thistle Complex.
The 2019 addition not only provides a campus focal point but also creates a space where collaboration and innovation meet.
The modernization includes a dramatic staircase anchoring the second storey, engineered to appear as though it’s floating, floor-to-ceiling glass walls allowing natural light to flood into the space, a skylight that enhances the bright, airy atmosphere, classroom, research and innovation spaces and a Silver Badger display showcasing Brock’s history.
The Rankin Family Pavilion, Brock University’s modern front entrance, has become a hub for events, meetings, studying and social gatherings.
