Fanshawe College’s latest downtown project is “on budget and on time.”
From inside, it’s first core campus, the Centre for Digital and Performance Arts, college president Peter Devlin gave politicians and stakeholders an update on construction taking place across the street where the old Kingsmill’s building used to stand.
“I had the rare treat of going through the building across the street about two weeks ago,” he said.
“I think there is a remarkable respect for history and tradition. The construction is also at the stage where — for an old guy like me — the building is starting to come to life. I can see the classrooms and the labs starting to appear.”
The new campus will incorporate familiar pieces of the former building, including the limestone facade facing Dundas Street, part of the pneumatic tub, and a painting from the old elevator.
“The original tin ceiling is going to be incorporated into our restaurants and some of our retail spaces,” added Fanshawe’s chief infrastructure officer Peter Gilbert.
Gilbert described a balance of keeping history alive, while introducing modern elements that are environmental and sustainable such as a two-story living wall to filter air, frittered glass, and reflective and green roofs.
“There’ll also be a four-storey centre staircase with a skylight that’ll bring in plenty of natural light into interior areas. Students will also be thrilled to see plenty of lounges and study space, as well as an amphitheatre-style gathering space.”
Mayor Matt Brown, Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos, and Liberal MPP Deb Matthews were among those invited to hammer a nail into a preserved wooden joist that’ll be incorporated into the campus building. They were also welcomed to sign their names on a second joist, that’ll be sent to the school’s east-end campus to be signed by students, before being brought back to the core.
“It took courage to come downtown,” said Fragiskatos.
“I’m truly impressed by the continuing ability of this great institution to really pivot and keep up with changing trends. Whether those are changing economic trends, changing social trends, and a trend that pushes colleges to think outside the box. Not just in terms of the programs that they offer, but also in terms of where they base themselves.”
Dubbed “Phase Two” of Fanshawe’s downtown campus, the building is on track to welcome 1,600 students in 2018, studying Information Technology, or Hospitality and Tourism programs.