黄松木公共空间是不列颠哥伦比亚大学中的一片重要区域。在温哥华的校园总体规划中，指定了几个区域作为对公众开放的公共空间，拥有复合功能，极具活力。以Ponderosa为例，区域中包含学生住房、学者的工作室、实验室、教职员办公室、酒店、餐厅和休息室。黄松木共空间是第一例此种类型的校园空间，其设计探索了“公共空间”的可能性。Hapa与建筑事设计事务所HCMA和KPMB合作，在校园和社区规划的帮助下，完成了占地4英亩的大胆设计，包括三栋主要建筑。

Ponderosa Commons was a big idea for the University of British Columbia. The Vancouver campus master plan had identified several locations on campus to become ‘Commons’ – high activity zones with mixed uses – including, in the case of Ponderosa, student housing, academics, studios, labs, faculty offices, a hotel, restaurants, and lounges. Ponderosa Commons was the first of its type on campus; its design was an exploration into what a ‘Commons’ could be. Working alongside the architectural joint venture of HCMA and KPMB, as well as Campus and Community Planning, Hapa embarked on an ambitious design for four acres, phased in tandem with three major buildings.

▼景观概览，brief view of the landscape

项目包含一片中央景观空间，位于校园一条主轴的尽头，以及三个包含新建筑的庭院。大学步道中央景观的设计概念集中在最富有活力的公共功能上，三个庭院则创造了更为安静的空间。基地自身的挑战丰富了项目的内容。首先，是贯穿整个基地的高差变化；其次，是第几种巨大的黄松木，亦是该项目名称的由来。

The project consists of a central landscape which is the terminus to one of the campus’ major axes, and three courtyards associated with new architecture. The concept was to focus the most active, public uses onto the central landscape of University Boulevard, and create more calm spaces within the courtyards.  The project was enriched by many challenges inherent to the site. Firstly, the significant grade change traversed by the site, and secondly by the namesake of the project: a majestic existing Ponderosa Pine.

▼设计概念，design concept

Hapa仔细研究了基地上的高差，力图寻找最为可达的方式。在与可达性专家的合作下，最终的设计策略为接受基地原本5.4%的自然坡道，将所有入口与坡道下方的主步道连接在一起。通过接受略为陡峭的斜坡，Hapa成功避免了在设计中贯穿一条传统的1/12坡道。

Hapa performed extensive grading studies, looking at how the site could be as accessible as possible.  Working with an accessibility consultant, the strategy adopted was to accept the natural slope of the site, a fairly consistent 5.4%, as ‘accessible’, and connect all entrances to a main walkway down this slope. By accepting a slightly steeper slope, Hapa was able to avoid employing a single traditional 1 in 12 ramp throughout the design.

▼保留场地原本较陡的坡道，accept the slightly steep slope on the site