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Algonquin College - Expansion Proposal |
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Algonquin College - Expansion Proposal |
Quick Facts
Cost: $52 million
Size: 110,000 square-feet
Sustainability certification: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
Projected completion: Fall 2012
Design-build team: Prime Contractor - PCL Constructors, Prime Consultants/Architects - IBI Group Architects / Teeple Architects, Structural Engineering Consultants - Adjeleian Allen Rubeli, Mechanical / Electrical Engineering Consultants - Crossey Engineering
See more details in the complete project website>>
"Based upon years of experience, ongoing student consultations, plenty of unsolicited feedback, and a comprehensive student survey, the number one problem facing students at the Woodroffe Campus is the lack of student space."
- Excerpt from letter to the Algonquin College Board of Governors from the President of the Students' Association
There is an urgent need to develop non-academic student space on the Woodroffe Campus Algonquin College. Currently there is little space on campus for students to work quietly on individual assignments, host high-profile guest speakers, get involved in clubs and activities, or meet and work on group projects. These peer-to-peer interactions are essential in the learning process and in creating a high-quality student experience.
High-quality student life establishes a strong foundation to build student engagement and increase a student's likelihood for success. Simply put, a student who feels a strong connection to the College has a greater chance to successfully complete his or her program.
Algonquin is committed to continuously review and improve services to meet the changing needs of our students. Greater space provides the College with greater opportunity to grow its services focused on student success.
At the beginning of the 2009-2010 academic year, the services offered by the Financial Aid Office were integrated with operations in the Registrar's Office, providing students with a single point of contact for their registration and financial support. This change has been met by a positive response from students as they have told us that they want to make fewer stops to get more services. This one-stop shopping approach will be integrated into the new facility allowing students to access several services under one roof.
Recognizing the need for more student space, and a combined commitment to student success, the Algonquin Students' Association (SA) has worked with College administration to develop a vision for a new Student Commons that will provide students with a unique space that will become the social hub, or heart, of the Woodroffe Campus.
The Student Commons will create a social hub, or 'heart', of the Woodroffe Campus providing students with a place for renewal, a place for friendship, a place to study, and a place to relax between the classroom and home.
Scheduled to open in Fall of 2012, the Student Commons project is the result of a continued partnership between the College and its Students’ Association. Unique to most Ontario colleges, the Algonquin College Students’ Association operates many College services, ranging from the varsity athletics to the Algonquin Fitness Zone. Committed to securing additional social and study space for students, the SA Board of Directors, through consultation with its members, approved to designate part of its activity fee to secure $30 million to fund the new Student Commons. Recognizing this opportunity to improve and centralize student support services the College’s Board of Governors approved the contribution of an additional $22 million dollars in funding for the project.
Anchored by a 700-seat auditorium for lectures and performances, the Student Commons will create a sense of place between the classroom and home, and will provide a grand atrium lounge area for students to relax in comfortable furniture and enjoy a coffee with friends.
The facility will provide a variety of choices for Student Commons will be the campus hub for students to access student support services, attend lectures and performances in he 700-seat auditorium, use club and activity space, study quietly or in groups, relax with a coffee or meal, or take advantage of a variety of purposeful green spaces nearby.
Features:
The Student Commons will be built to the exacting standards of the Canada Green Building Council’s LEED-Gold certification. The multi-storey design of this new facility will capitalize on natural lighting and ‘greening’ of the adjacent landscape to “bring the outdoors in.”
The building will be built adjacent to the existing home of the College’s Hospitality and Tourism programs, and serve as a gateway for visitors arriving via the eastern approach to the campus, including the College’s principal parking areas. An official ground-breaking ceremony is set for April 2011 and construction will begin soon after. The building will open in September 2012.
Timeline:
Feb - Apr 2011 - IDP Handover Session, Design Charrettes & Workshops
May 2011 - Construction starts
May - July 2011 - Renovation of D (Bookstore) and H (at link) Buildings
July 2012 - Furniture move/installation
Aug 2012 - Occupancy
Sept 2012 - Building opens
Social interaction between our students and opportunities to work with employers outside of the classroom will always be essential components of student life on Algonquin's campuses. The Student Commons promises to enhance this experience on the Woodroffe Campus.
This building will continue the College’s commitment to sustainability, as it will be designed using ‘green’ building technologies with an aim to achieve LEED certification.