Bow Valley College will honour the donors who helped make its longtime home new again in the official reopening of its north campus today, the first phase of a $271-million redevelopment project to be complete by 2013.
The north campus renovation, which began in September 2006, features 75,000 square feet of new space along with the preservation of the original building at 332 6th Ave. S. E., completed in 1972.
The bright, modernized building combines state-of-the-art student spaces, labs and a new library. It also houses retail open to the public, including cafes and a bookstore, as well as meeting or special event rooms for rent.
“It really is such an exciting day for us. We’ve been able to preserve historic architecture and still add square footage and functionality that adds another 40 years of life to the building,” said Bow Valley president and CEO Sharon Carry.
“There are new, unique spaces for our students. And places where downtown workers can come and gather, whether it’s to use retail services or rent out meeting rooms for special events.”
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Today’s reopening ceremony begins at noon, with the highlight being the unveiling of Donor Square. It’s a novel piece of art wrapped around the central atrium pillar up to three storeys high, encasing the names of some 1,700 donors.
Private donations made up $13 million of Phase 1’s $82-million redevelopment, also funded by the provincial and federal governments.
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“Our donors know we have a very important role economically in this city,” Carry said. “We’re producing work-ready graduates that employers are looking for.”
Bow Valley provides a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and affordable tuition fees for lower-income students seeking upgrading or diplomas in business, health care and human services.
The institute’s diverse student population includes immigrants learning English, aboriginals, single parents and laid-off employees changing careers.
“We’re giving a hand up to people who may not have had access to postsecondary education,” Carry said.
Phase 2 of the college’s redevelopment includes construction of the south campus, across the street, where the provincial courthouse used to stand. The ground has just been broken on that project, a seven-storey building, due to be complete in January 2013.
After that, up to $14 million will be spent for retrofits on the north campus, including upgrades to the cafeteria, student services centre and loading docks.
When complete, the north and south campus buildings will allow the college to double its enrolment to 20,000 by 2020.
Carry says increased access to post-secondary institutes will be critical as employers become more demanding of graduates entering the workforce.
“Nearly three-quarters of the jobs of the future will require advanced skills from post-secondary students.”
eferguson@theherald.canwest.com
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