Shock! was my first reaction as I rounded a curve on River Road leading to Trent University's science complex and was assailed by the colour of the exterior cladding on the new Peter Gzowski residence. The building, dominating the landscape in size and especially in its colour, makes the beauty of Ron Thom's world famous, award-winning design of the university's first phase across the river pale into insignificance. What an affront it is to such outstanding architectural achievement. The new redolence rivets your attention and is all you are conscious of.

As a building by itself it could afford to be so prominent, the combination of black and muted yellow work well together, but in the context of the established sense of scale and proportion evident in the other campus buildings it fails miserably. I find that the abstract treatment of fenestration is original and quite pleasing, but the colour, made all the more intrusive by the black framing of the end walls, astounds me by its inappropriateness.

I am a retired architect who practiced in Peterborough for many years. I once had the privilege of working with Thom as an associate on the design of the Metro Toronto Zoo in 1971, and I am convinced that he would roll over in his grave, as I am sure Peter Gzowski would also, at the sight of such a monstrous eyesore.

I am dismayed by the architect;s failure to make any attempt to harmonize with the other campus architecture and the building committee's approval of such an incompatible colour for the building's exterior. If the goal was to create a landmark, the purpose was achieved, but at what cost to the charm and excitement that once belonged to the architecture of Trent University.

Walter Noble practices architecture in Peterborough for 15 years. He designed the Art Gallery of Peterborough, the Peterborough Marina building and the Lift Lock Interpretive Centre, to name a few.