OSHAWA, ONT.—Construction of the new Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE) at Durham College’s (DC) Oshawa campus will be moving ahead, thanks to $13 million in funding from the federal government.
The funding commitment, which will be made through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund (SIF), combined with the $22 million in funding received from the provincial government towards the building in April 2016, brings the total amount being invested in the CFCE to $35 million, states a release. It is the largest single-project investment by government in the college’s history.
The announcement was made by Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Liberal MP for Whitby, on behalf of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada at an event held at the college Sept. 14.
According to the release, with a total build cost of $40 million, the CFCE will replace the college’s Simcoe building, which was originally built as a temporary structure and opened in 1969.
The new multi-level, 75,000-square-foot-facility, a legacy project tied to DC’s 50th anniversary in 2017, will serve as an educational access point for students.
Since announcing plans to replace the aging Simcoe building in April, DC has made steady progress on plans for the CFCE. The construction and architecture tenders have been awarded and initial work is expected to begin this fall with construction to be completed in 2018, the release indicates. A comprehensive design consultation process involving the builder and architects is now underway with each of the services, programs and departments that will be moving into the CFCE.
The CFCE will be located to the east of the current building, where it will connect directly to the Student Services building, and is being designed to include more collaborative learning and social spaces.
The CFCE will house the following:
• The School-College-Work Initiative and the affiliated Centre for Success program, a partnership between DC and the Durham District, Kawartha Pine Ridge District, Durham Catholic District, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District, and Trillium Lakelands District school boards. The initiative assists in-risk students by helping them find their way to college;
• The Aboriginal and Student Diversity Centres;
• Entrepreneurial, Innovation and Creative spaces including the Spark Centre, which will expand applied research opportunities for students, faculty and small-and medium-sized businesses;
• Health science facilities with classrooms and labs, a spa focused on massage therapy, cosmetology and esthetics and programming centred around occupational therapy and physical therapy;
• Foundation programs designed to prepare students for the continuation of post-secondary education at college or university; and
Significant collaborative learning and social spaces for students, faculty and community.
The college will soon launch a capital campaign to raise the additional $5 million for construction of the building in partnership with individuals, corporations, community partners and alumni over a two-year period.
"Providing us with the opportunity to expand into new program areas that offer experiential learning opportunities designed to match the labour needs of industry, the CFCE is a legacy building for the next 50 years that truly reflects Durham College’s dedication to meeting the demands of students, employers and Ontario’s changing economy," said DC president Don Lovisa in a statement.
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