It wasn’t summer vacation for those working on new construction and renovations at The University of Western Ontario.
The building boom pushes forward this academic year as the university approaches deadlines for completion of major projects on campus in 2011. With renovations and upgrades to existing structures, combined with construction on new facilities with sustainability in mind, the university landscape is changing shape.
Western made a commitment to certify all new construction to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, with current projects targeting LEED Silver or better.
Making it easier to watch the progress is the new communication software, MultiVista, which allows stakeholders to check for updates on the projects, including floor plans, images and other information about the building, says Physical Plant & Capital Planning Services associate vice-president Roy Langille.
“We have several projects on the go at any given moment at Western. We have a very talented and engaged group of project managers, co-ordinators and support staff that work tirelessly to ensure timelines are met and customers end up satisfied with the end result,” says Langille.
“New buildings on campus don’t always mean better buildings.”
In both design and construction, providing “the best student experience” remains a priority, including creating enhanced common spaces, modernized amenities and introducing new technologies to improve impact on the environment.
“Not only are all building being built with ‘green’ standards, the surrounding landscape is also handled with similar care. For example, for every tree that is removed during new construction, one or more native trees will be planted elsewhere on campus,” adds Langille.
The construction and renovation projects underway include:
Richard Ivey School of Business
The new $100-million facility for the Richard Ivey School of Business is quickly taking shape and changing the landscape along Western Road. Substantial completion of the 234,000 square foot, three-storey building (Phase 1) is expected by March 2011. Following this Phase 2 of the construction, located on the northwest corner of the site, will begin and will close in the building’s quadrangle garden. When Ivey students move into their new building, the existing Ivey building will free up room for some faculties that have identified the need for expansion.
Stevenson Hall
Stevenson Hall renovations are nearly complete providing the campus with newly assigned academic offices and instructional rooms. The third and final phase, Lawson Hall, will be completed in 2011.
Physics and Astronomy
Modernization of one of campus’ oldest structures, the Physics and Astronomy Building, is currently underway. The renovation will improve efficiency in space and resources. The enclosed courtyard will provide an additional 15,600 square foot of functional space. The renovation will create modern offices, classrooms, and instructional facilities.
McIntosh Gallery
The McIntosh Gallery sits at the edge of the Physics and Astronomy Building renovations, but the quaint gallery has undergone significant upgrades of its own this summer. The building upgrades include new lighting, windows/doors, HVAC, and high efficiency fixtures installed in the restrooms.
Centre for Brain and Mind
Located on the second floor of the Natural Sciences Building, the Centre for Brain and Mind is a 16,000 square foot space designed to be the hub of research in cognitive neuroscience at Western. Researchers are expected to move into part of the space in early fall. The remainder of the space will be completed throughout the next year.
WINDEEE
The construction of the $23.6-million Wind Engineering, Energy and Environment Dome (WindEEE) at Western’s Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) is set to begin this fall. The unique, six-sided dome is the world’s first hexagonal wind tunnel. WindEEE Dome is designed to be 40 metres across and will contain more than 100 fans, each about one metre in diameter. Together, they can create winds of up to 100 kilometres per hour. The university will also add a 10,000-square-foot academic support facility on the new AMP site for faculty, students and staff associated with WindEEE as well as with other new facilities.
Demolition of unused buildings
The former Services Building, located at the corner of Lambton and Huron drives, and the former Westminster College administration building, located beside Westminster Hall at Windermere Road and Richmond Street, are set to be demolished. A vacant home just off Richmond Street near the bridge will also be leveled. Once the buildings have been removed, the areas will be landscaped. There are no current plans for new construction on these sites, and the Campus Master Plan will guide future development of these locations.