February 14, 2014 - Laurentian University’s Board of Governors today unanimously approved the awarding of a $23.9M contract for the construction of Phase Two of the Laurentian School of Architecture. Work on the 55,000 square feet of new construction is expected to begin in March, 2014, with preparation of the foundation at the Elm and Elgin site.
“Phase Two of our Laurentian Architecture project will see the completion of an important landmark in the city’s downtown core. We are confident this building will be an extraordinary home for the Architecture program,” said Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor, Dominic Giroux.
Designed by LGA Architectural Partners, the School of Architecture will be a unique building comprising two distinct and contrasting wings. The North Wing, fronting on Elm Street, will be a steel framed structure containing mezzanines above the second floor. The West Wing will be a two-storey glulam and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) wood structure, and will be the first large-scale use of CLT in a public building in Ontario. The two new wings will house classrooms and studio space, a lecture theatre, lounges and office areas, while creating an inner courtyard and a public walkway. The first phase of construction consisted of renovating the two heritage buildings that currently provide faculty and studio space for the Laurentian Architecture program, which officially launched in September, 2013.
“It is an exceptional and innovative design and we believe the final result will be an exciting, visually stunning addition to the cityscape,” said Laurentian Architecture’s Founding Director, Dr. Terrance Galvin. “The whole community is going to see this beautiful structure taking shape over the months to come, and I think it’s going to be thrilling to watch this dynamic process.”
The contract has been awarded to Bondfield Construction of Concord, Ontario, after a competitive bidding process. Approximately 100 local tradespeople and labourers are expected to be involved in the 18-month construction project.
Bondfield Construction is a family-owned Canadian construction company with broad experience in public infrastructure projects, and is a leader in LEED and green energy construction. Among many other public buildings across the province, Bondfield Construction’s portfolio includes the Queen’s School of Business, Kingston; the University of Guelph Engineering Complex; the University of Waterloo Science Building; Global Innovation Exchange, Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo; Georgian College Health and Wellness Centre in Barrie; Bishop Strachan School in Toronto; the Barrie Public Library, and the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts.
The Laurentian University School of Architecture is the first new school of architecture to open in Canada in 45 years. Major funding partners in the project are:
⎯ The Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities (MTCU)
⎯ The Government of Canada’s Regional Development Organization for Northern Ontario (FedNOR)
⎯ The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund
⎯ Centre for Research & Innovation in the Bio‐Economy (CRIBE) Laurentian University