CSU Ontario My Scene Newsletter, Issue 1, July 2010
Ontario Campus, Burlington Gets a Facelift
Major renovations are underway at Charles Sturt University's facilities at the Bay Area Learning Centre, in Burlington, Ontario. The expansion is part of the CSU's progressive growth strategy for Ontario. Once completed, the upgraded space will provide facilities to support the current approved programs and provide capacity for programs commencing in 2011 and beyond.
Mr Keith Hogan, Director of Procurement and Risk Management at CSU, stated that, “The construction involves extensive refurbishment of the current entrance area and amenities within our existing 29,000 sq ft leased under an agreement with the Bay Area Learning Centre . We are also undertaking construction of a new 11,000 sq ft addition to the campus.”
The $1.5mCAD project will deliver additional office space, tutorial rooms, refurbished wash rooms, specialist video conference rooms, and resource rooms for staff and students. The project will also deliver enhanced student spaces within the existing space to support students as they study at the centre. When finished, the centre will have a capacity of approx 500-550 students and staff.
Mr Stephen Butt, CSU's Executive Director of Facilities Management, says that, “At the centre of this work will be the Learning Commons, which is transforming the library resource area and educational support. This is consistent with CSU's approach at its other facilities and is a concept that puts the student 'at the centre' of learning, providing a 'one stop shop' for services such a Library, IT, Careers and Learning Support services, to create a dynamic environment for learning and teaching.”
The Learning Commons also provides more spaces with extensive student computing services,, a mix of group and independent study spaces supported by access to food and class preparation areas to encourage the social aspect of learning.
Learning Commons are part of the University's response to the changing needs of today's dynamic study and work environments. It demonstrates CSU's overall commitment to make its students work- and career-ready for the future.
The project will commence during the summer of 2010. Renovations will finish in stages to minimise the impact on students and staff.