$14 million for new EV3 building, renovations to EV1 and EV2
The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario are providing $14 million for a new Faculty of Environment building and for a 'green' retrofit of the faculty's existing buildings.
The $14 million will fund two interrelated building projects:
1. a 40,000-square-foot expansion to house laboratory, teaching, computer workspace, and study space and offices as well as renovations to the faculty's 40-year-old building.
2. a 'green' retrofit of existing space to upgrade and expand climate change and ecology labs, teaching facilities, and project development space.
Dean Deep Saini says “it is our intention that as the Faculty of Environment, we set a critical example for our students, alumni, and external and internal partners by building the first green building on campus. I am pleased that Thomas Mueller, CEO of the Canada Green Building Council (and a UW Planning grad), has graciously accepted the invitation to chair the Faculty’s Green Building Campaign and will provide invaluable guidance.”
Growth has led to insufficient space
The Faculty of Environment has experienced very high rates of growth in student enrollment, the number of professors and researchers, and research productivity. Insufficient facilities have constrained our ability to meet Canada’s needs for basic and applied environmental research, education and training. These investments allow us to contribute effectively and efficiently to national environmental solutions.
"Our federal and provincial leaders are to be commended for their joint support of these two important projects," said president David Johnston. "[The] environmental research cluster will help produce the intellectual capital and research needed to ensure that growth in Ontario is driven in an intelligent and sustainable fashion."
Estimated budget: $14 million. Federal contribution: $6.75 million; provincial contribution: $7.25 million.
The building site (which adjoins the existing Environment 2 building) has been approved in the university’s campus master plan. Preliminary floor plans, concept designs and building specifications are available, and the university is ready to advertise for builders and contractors. Construction is to begin this year and be substantially completed in March 2011.
March 2011 is key because if they do not finish it by then, the gov't will not pay for the building. And we can't expect RIM to pay for a non-engineering/math building.
