For our thesis project, my project partner and I created Kaleidoscope: The Centre of Arts for Young Women and Girls, a three-storey community space located in the revitalized Gaslight District of Cambridge, ON. Designed for HIP Developments, the centre addresses gender inequality in the arts by providing a vibrant and deeply supportive space for young women to explore artistic expression, career development, and community living.
We drew on the metaphor of a kaleidoscope, ever-shifting and expressive, to guide our design decisions. From modular furniture and mural walls to artist-in-residence programs, stained glass wayfinding, and circadian lighting, every inch of the building reflects the mission to empower women creatively, emotionally, and professionally. It’s a space that embraces “controlled chaos,” where community, friendship, and artistic freedom can flourish.
After two semesters of living this concept ourselves, we hope Kaleidoscope inspires others to find their own version of controlled chaos—and to see the world through a kaleidoscope lens.
This project was awarded First Place in Construction Specifications Canada’s Student Design Challenge 2025 “Tapping the Future”
- This student design competition is open to all post-secondary school students in Ontario with an interest in construction related activities including architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, interior design, construction management, innovative products and manufacturing.
—
