Joe Beaudoin Jr.: Initial creation

2026-05-31T20:10:59Z

Initial creation

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[[File:Riverwalk.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Academic Quadrangle at SFU Burnaby, serving as the [[Caprica City]] Riverwalk Market {{TRS|Miniseries}}.]]
'''Simon Fraser University''' (SFU) is a public university with campuses in [[w:Burnaby, British Columbia|Burnaby]], [[w:Vancouver, British Columbia|Vancouver]], and [[w:Surrey, British Columbia|Surrey]], British Columbia, Canada. Its Burnaby campus — a Brutalist concrete complex atop [[w:Burnaby Mountain|Burnaby Mountain]] — is the single most heavily used filming location across the ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' franchise, appearing in the [[Miniseries]], multiple seasons of ''Battlestar Galactica'', and throughout ''[[Caprica (series)|Caprica]]''. Its Surrey campus, located in the Central City development in [[w:Surrey Central station|Surrey City Centre]], also appears in ''Caprica''.

== Architecture ==

=== Burnaby campus ===

In the early 1960s, the provincial government of British Columbia held an architectural competition for a new university to be built on [[w:Burnaby Mountain|Burnaby Mountain]]. Architects [[w:Arthur Erickson|Arthur Erickson]] and [[w:Geoffrey Massey|Geoffrey Massey]] (Erickson/Massey Architects) submitted a design that broke several of the competition's rules. Erickson later recalled asking Massey "if they wanted to win or show what they believed in"; they chose the latter, and were chosen as the unanimous winners. The campus was awarded the Massey Medal for architectural excellence shortly after its completion in 1965.<ref group="production" name="montecristo_sfu_erickson_massey_competition">{{cite web|url=https://montecristomagazine.com/arts/how-sfu-became-hollywoods-face-of-the-future#:~:text=unanimous%20winners%20of%20an%20architectural%20competition%20held%20by%20the%20provincial%20government%2C%20and%20awarded%20the%20Massey%20Medal|title=How SFU Became Hollywood's Face of the Future|author=Sam Wiebe|publisher=MONTECRISTO Magazine|date=October 16, 2024|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref>

Erickson conceived the campus as a modern Acropolis: "building and mountain would appear to be part of each other." The design organizes a central covered mall, an academic quadrangle, student union, and residences in a continuous terraced complex of precast and poured concrete, all interconnected by a covered walkway spanning the mountain ridge. Each major building within the plan was designed by a different architect: the Academic Quadrangle by Zoltan Kiss; the W.A.C. Bennett Library by Robert F. Harrison; the Science Complex by Rhone & Iredale Architects; the Theatre and Gymnasium by Duncan McNab and Associates; with landscape by John Lantzius & Associates.<ref group="production" name="westcoastmodern_sfu_architect_credits">{{cite web|url=https://westcoastmodern.org/places/simon-fraser-university/#:~:text=Zoltan%20Kiss%20(Academic%20Quadrangle)%20Rhone%20%26%20Iredale%20Architects%20(Science%20Complex)%20Robert%20Harrison%20(Library)|title=Simon Fraser University Burnaby Campus, 1965|publisher=West Coast Modern League|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref> The W.A.C. Bennett Library later had two stories added in the mid-1970s.

The university opened on September 9, 1965. The Burnaby campus sits at approximately 390 metres (1,200 feet) above sea level on 420 acres of land on Burnaby Mountain, northeast of Vancouver. The campus is built on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nations.

=== Surrey campus ===

SFU's Surrey campus opened in Fall 2006 above the [[w:Central City (Surrey, British Columbia)|Central City]] shopping and office development at 10153 King George Boulevard, Surrey — adjacent to Surrey Central [[w:SkyTrain (Vancouver)|SkyTrain]] station. The Central City development and SFU campus above it were designed by architect [[w:Bing Thom|Bing Thom]] and adorned with Indigenous art contributed by Katzie and Semiahmoo First Nations.<ref group="production" name="sfu_surrey_about_bing_thom_2006">{{cite web|url=https://www.sfu.ca/surrey/about/our-locations/sfu-at-central-city.html#:~:text=Designed%20by%20the%20late%20Bing%20Thom%20and%20adorned%20with%20Indigenous%20art|title=SFU at Central City|publisher=Simon Fraser University|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref>

== Appearances in ''Battlestar Galactica'' ==

The Burnaby campus has been used for BSG locations from the [[Miniseries]] through the series finale. The Academic Quadrangle — a rectangular courtyard with a long reflecting pool, enclosed by the Zoltan Kiss-designed classroom block — is the specific area most frequently used, appearing in multiple roles across the run of the series.

=== [[Miniseries]] ===

The Academic Quadrangle serves as the '''Riverwalk Market, Caprica City''' — its on-screen label — in the opening scenes depicting [[Caprica]] before the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Cylon attack]]. The market dressing was achieved with portable set pieces; no substantial alteration was made to the physical location. This is where [[Caprica Six]] kills an infant in the market and later meets her [[Number One|contact]].<ref group="production" name="suwalski_bsg_sfu_aq_riverwalk_miniseries">{{cite web|url=http://pat.suwalski.net/film/bsg-locations/#:~:text=This%20scene%20appears%20several%20times%20in%20the%20miniseries%2C%20it%20is%20labeled%20%22Riverwalk%20Market%2C%20Caprica%20City%22|title=BSG – Season 1 Locations|author=Pat Suwalski|date=2005|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref><ref group="production" name="battlestarlocations_sfu_aq_riverwalk_miniseries">{{cite web|url=http://www.battlestarlocations.com/locations-guide/category/simon%20fraser%20university#:~:text=Riverwalk%20Market%2C%20Simon%20Fraser%20University%2C%20off%20Gaglardi%20Way|title=Locations Guide – Simon Fraser University|publisher=battlestarlocations.com|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref>

The W.A.C. Bennett Library is used in a brief Miniseries sequence in which [[Gaius Baltar]] gloats to [[Number Six]] about his success in the defense project; the scene continues into the Academic Quadrangle, which the Library adjoins.<ref group="production" name="suwalski_bsg_sfu_wac_library_miniseries">{{cite web|url=http://pat.suwalski.net/film/bsg-locations/#:~:text=The%20library%20is%20used%20in%20a%20short%20sequence%20where%20Baltar%20gloats%20to%20Number%20Six|title=BSG – Season 1 Locations|author=Pat Suwalski|date=2005|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref>

=== "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]" and "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]" ===

Three separate SFU buildings appear in these episodes, all redressed as locations on [[Caprica]] following the Cylon attack:

* The '''Transportation Centre''' (labeled as such on SFU campus maps; a student building whose ground floor features four staircases descending into a pit area) is dressed with debris for the sequence in which [[Karl Agathon|Helo]] and [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Sharon]] make their way through a ruined section of the city.<ref group="production" name="suwalski_bsg_sfu_transportation_centre_klag2">{{cite web|url=http://pat.suwalski.net/film/bsg-locations/#:~:text=Labeled%20the%20Transportation%20Centre%20on%20the%20official%20SFU%20map%2C%20this%20building%20appears%20to%20be%20a%20student%20building|title=BSG – Season 1 Locations|author=Pat Suwalski|date=2005|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref>

* The '''West Mall Centre''' (at the entrance where Burnaby Mountain Parkway meets Gaglardi Way) serves as the exterior of the [[Delphi Museum of the Colonies]], where [[Kara Thrace]] lands the captured [[Cylon Raider]] and retrieves the [[Arrow of Apollo]].<ref group="production" name="battlestarlocations_sfu_west_mall_delphi_museum">{{cite web|url=http://www.battlestarlocations.com/locations-guide/category/simon%20fraser%20university#:~:text=Delphi%20museum%2C%20The%20West%20Mall%20building%2C%20Simon%20Fraser%20University|title=Locations Guide – Simon Fraser University|publisher=battlestarlocations.com|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref><ref group="production" name="suwalski_bsg_sfu_west_mall_delphi">{{cite web|url=http://pat.suwalski.net/film/bsg-locations/#:~:text=The%20spot%20where%20Starbuck%20lands%20the%20captured%20Cylon%20fighter%20is%20SFU%27s%20West%20Mall%20Centre|title=BSG – Season 1 Locations|author=Pat Suwalski|date=2005|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref>

* The '''steps outside the Academic Quadrangle''' (Gaglardi Way side) are where Helo shoots Sharon — an alternate camera angle reveals the inside windows of the Quadrangle itself in the background.<ref group="production" name="suwalski_bsg_sfu_aq_steps_helo_shoots_sharon">{{cite web|url=http://pat.suwalski.net/film/bsg-locations/#:~:text=This%20area%20later%20appeared%20in%20the%20season-ending%20two-parter%20as%20the%20location%20where%20Helo%20shoots%20Sharon|title=BSG – Season 1 Locations|author=Pat Suwalski|date=2005|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref>

=== "[[Epiphanies]]" ===

The Academic Quadrangle reappears during [[Laura Roslin]]'s flashbacks to the Caprica Riverwalk before the Fall, reusing the same Miniseries Riverwalk Market dressing area.<ref>{{cite companion|season=1|page=30}}</ref>

=== "[[Daybreak, Part I]]" and "[[Daybreak, Part II]]" ===

The Academic Quadrangle's reflecting pool is used for the Caprica flashback sequence in which Laura Roslin goes swimming after receiving her cancer diagnosis. Production filmed at the AQ in July 2008, returning to the same location used at the start of the entire series.<ref group="production" name="moviemaps_sfu_aq_roslin_daybreak_swimming">{{cite web|url=https://moviemaps.org/locations/3y#:~:text=Laura%20Roslin%20goes%20swimming%20in%20SFU%27s%20pond%20in%20the%20Academic%20Quadrangle%20after%20learning%20some%20bad%20news%20in%20episodes%20%23419%20%26%20%23420|title=Movies Filmed at Academic Quadrangle|publisher=MovieMaps|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref><ref group="production" name="paulman_blog_sfu_bsg_s4_filming_july2008">{{cite web|url=https://paulman.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/battlestar-galactica-season-4-filming-at-sfu-or-is-it-caprica/#:~:text=Academic%20Quadrangle%20%E2%80%93%20Courtyard%20and%20Reflecting%20Pond%20area|title=Battlestar Galactica Season 4 Filming at SFU|date=July 3, 2008|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref>

== Appearances in ''Caprica'' ==

Both the Burnaby and Surrey campuses are used extensively in ''Caprica'' as various [[Caprica City]] exteriors and off-world locations.

=== SFU Burnaby ===

The Academic Quadrangle continues to serve as the [[Caprica City]] Riverwalk throughout ''Caprica'', consistent with its use in ''Battlestar Galactica''. The campus is used for a wide range of general Caprica City establishing and street-level scenes across the series.<ref group="production" name="13thcolony_sfu_caprica_bsg_locations">{{cite web|url=https://13thcolony.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/bsg-shooting-locations-sfu/#:~:text=To%20see%20Caprica%2C%20either%20before%20or%20after%20the%20attack%2C%20one%20goes%20to%20SFU|title=BSG Shooting Locations – SFU|publisher=The 13th Colony|date=March 10, 2008|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref>

=== SFU Surrey (Central City) ===

The SFU Surrey mezzanine and registrar's office areas within the [[w:Central City (Surrey, British Columbia)|Central City]] development served as the '''[[Caprica Interplanetary Spaceport|Caprica Inter-Colonial Spaceport]]''' in the ''Caprica'' pilot and subsequent episodes.<ref group="production" name="tanenbaum_flickr_sfu_surrey_spaceport">{{cite web|url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/jtanenbaum/4077340868/in/photostream/|title=Pantheon Bridge and Spaceport Filming|author=J. Tanenbaum|publisher=Flickr|date=2009|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref>

The Central City development's distinctive roof structure and newer construction also served as '''Vergis Corporation headquarters''' on [[w:Tauron|Tauron]] in "[[Know Thy Enemy]]" (1x06).<ref group="production" name="visitcaprica_ep6_sfu_surrey_vergis_tauron">{{cite web|url=http://www.visitcaprica.com/2011/01/episode-6-know-thy-enemy.html#:~:text=figured%20this%20was%20part%20of%20the%20Central%20City%20development%20in%20Surrey.%20Sure%20enough%3A%20Simon%20Fraser%20University%20does%20it%20again|title=Episode 6: Know Thy Enemy|publisher=Visit Caprica|date=2011|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref>

== Notes ==

* SFU's Burnaby campus has been used for science fiction film and television production since 1971, beginning with ''The Groundstar Conspiracy''. Productions filmed there include ''The X-Files'', ''Stargate SG-1'', ''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' (2008), ''Underworld Awakening'' (2012), and many others. MONTECRISTO Magazine described it as a location where "building and mountain would appear to be part of each other," noting its Brutalist concrete evokes equally a classical ruin and a futuristic installation to location scouts.<ref group="production" name="montecristo_sfu_hollywood_scifi_history">{{cite web|url=https://montecristomagazine.com/arts/how-sfu-became-hollywoods-face-of-the-future#:~:text=Since%20its%20construction%20in%201965%2C%20SFU%20has%20been%20a%20frequent%20location%20for%20movie%20and%20television%20productions|title=How SFU Became Hollywood's Face of the Future|author=Sam Wiebe|publisher=MONTECRISTO Magazine|date=October 16, 2024|accessdate=30 May 2026}}</ref>

* [[w:Arthur Erickson|Arthur Erickson]], who designed the SFU Burnaby campus master plan, also designed the [[Waterfall Building]] (the most-used interior BSG filming location in Vancouver) and oversaw the renovation of the [[w:Vancouver Art Gallery|Vancouver Art Gallery]] (the former provincial courthouse used for ''Caprica'' exterior scenes).

* The university is named after [[w:Simon Fraser (explorer)|Simon Fraser]], a fur trader with the North West Company who led a colonial expedition through the region in the early 19th century. It is not named after [[w:Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat|Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat]] (the Jacobite figure), nor after the Fraser clan's patriarch.

== References ==

=== Production ===
{{reflist|group=production}}

=== Notes ===
{{reflist}}

== External Links ==

* [http://pat.suwalski.net/film/bsg-locations/ BSG Season 1 Locations] (Pat Suwalski) — includes full SFU location map
* [http://www.battlestarlocations.com/locations-guide/category/simon%20fraser%20university SFU Locations Guide] at battlestarlocations.com
* [https://moviemaps.org/locations/3y Academic Quadrangle filming locations] at MovieMaps
* [https://montecristomagazine.com/arts/how-sfu-became-hollywoods-face-of-the-future How SFU Became Hollywood's Face of the Future] — MONTECRISTO Magazine

== See also ==

* [[Filming locations (RDM)]]
* [[Waterfall Building]]
* [[Vancouver Public Library]]

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Simon Fraser University - Revision history

Joe Beaudoin Jr.: Initial creation