July 31, 2008

McKNIGHT CHARRON LAURIN INC. ARCHITECTS

When it opens in fall 2009, the new building at Barrie’s Georgian College will house civil and architectural technology programs, among others.

Georgian College set to build centre for sustainable technologies

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

With $4.65 million in funding from the province, Georgian College is set to build a new centre for sustainable technologies at its Barrie campus.

Designed by McKnight Charron Laurin Inc. Architects, the 18,000-square-foot building will allow Georgian to offer new civil engineering technology and architectural technology programs, among others.

The facility is scheduled to open in September 2009.

“This is the bricks and mortar side of education,” said John Milloy, minister of training, colleges and universities, who announced the investment at an on-campus press conference.

Funding is being provided under the government’s three-year, $1.5 billion skills to jobs action plan.

Being designed to incorporate LEED elements, the estimated $6 million project will provide a total of 153 student workstations. Geothermal technology is to be used to heat and cool the building.

“The building itself will be a laboratory where students will fully experience the art and science of sustainable technology systems in a real-world, hands-on setting,” the college said in a backgrounder.

Space will be provided for a variety of labs: design, high-voltage electrical, surveying, materials testing, computers and innovative technologies.

A key feature is a technical reports laboratory where students will work with industry in solving “authentic, real-world” challenges.

Georgian College president Brian Tamblyn said the funding comes “at a critical time as the college addresses two significant challenges.

“First, investment in the centre for sustainable technologies will allow the college to address serious capacity issues at a time when our classrooms and labs are stretched to the limit.

“Secondly, this significant provincial contribution will greatly strengthen our ability to provide timely education and skills training urgently needed by our many industry partners.”

Those partners include key construction industry associations.

One of the proposed new programs to be accommodated is civil engineering technology.

The curriculum currently is being developed in consultation with the Simcoe County Heavy Construction Association, the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association and the Ontario General Contractors Association.

In an interview, architect Michael McKnight said tenders are expected to be called within the next eight to ten weeks. In order to expedite the schedule, the structural steel package likely will be pre-tendered.

“The plan is to get a shovel in the ground this fall and open next September,” said McKnight, whose firm has previously done work for Georgian College. “We’re looking at a nine to 10-month construction schedule.”

The project is expected to be the first to be completed under the province’s skills to jobs action plan, which supports new construction and renovation projects as well as equipment purchases.

“We intend to move very, very quickly,” Tamblyn said.

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