Excavation has begun at the Doon campus of Conestoga College in connection with a major expansion that will see full-time enrolment increase by 1,400.
The project, made possible by more than $14 million in funding from the province’s SuperBuild program, should be ready in time for the fall of 2002, in advance of the significant educational demand to be caused by the so- called double cohort of secondary school graduates resulting from the phase-out of Grade 13 in Ontario.
The Conestoga expansion will total 110,000 sq.ft. The enlargement to the existing Doon Centre building will be 2 ½ storeys (because of the land configuration, the lower level will occupy half the floor space of each of the two upper levels). Among the features will be classrooms, a small amphitheatre, faculty rooms, meeting/small group rooms and a food service area. Combined with space reconfiguration elsewhere at the campus, the total gain to the College should be approximately 70 classrooms and eight laboratories.
The entire project is valued at more than $36 million, which includes funding from both the public and private sectors. The College intends to focus enrolment growth in the areas of information technology, engineering technology, advanced manufacturing, multimedia communications, health sciences and police/fire/emergency services. The College is expecting a full-time enrolment this fall of close to 6,000.
In another development, work is nearing completion on a major enlargement of the Conestoga Residence and Conference Centre (formerly Rodeway Suites Conestoga). This College-owned residence, just across from the Doon campus in Kitchener, will be able to house more than 400 students.
CONTACT: Kevin Mullan, 519-748-5220, ext. 3517