ANTIGONISH, N.S. — Work is underway at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S. on one of the largest structural overhauls ever undertaken at the university following selection of a general contractor, it was announced recently.
EllisDon Construction and Building Services was awarded the job for the design and construction of the new Mulroney Hall. The university evaluted seven potential contractors and selected EllisDon with an estimated contract price tag of $41 million.
The work on Mulroney Hall is expected to be completed by early 2019.
The project was announced in Antigonish in October with former prime minister Brian Mulroney in attendance.
Mulroney, a graduate of the class of 1959, was acknowledged as the chief fundraiser for some $60 million raised, including a $1-million personal gift from him and his wife Mila.
Of the $60 million raised, $55 million has come from private donations and $5 million from the Government of Nova Scotia. The St. FX board of governors has approved $40 million towards the construction of Mulroney Hall. The hall will house the Mulroney Institute, which is a centre for undergraduate teaching and research in the field of public policy and governance. The institute will offer a four-year degree in public policy and governance.
The 75,000-square-foot Mulroney Hall, slated to open in 2019, will replace the dated Nicholson Hall with a modern learning space on the upper campus, a 300-person auditorium, an open atrium, a new centre for teaching and learning, labs and office spaces.
The hall will also feature hundreds of artefacts spread throughout the building, memorabilia from Mulroney’s nearly nine years as prime minister, notes a media statement. The historic material will include the desk of first Canadian prime minister John A. Macdonald, a gift Mulroney received from the Conservative Party.
The donations will also fund over $10 million for at least six new academic chairs and a similar endowment in scholarships and awards, including over $1 million for aboriginal Canadians.
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