North Campus Backfill Project
Communications Update – June 23, 2016
As the spring semester winds down, you’ve likely noticed that Backfill Project construction at the North Campus is still in full swing. A number of departments and schools have moved, or will soon move, into new surroundings, and new labs and classrooms are being developed.
Here’s a summary of activity to date and what will happen over the summer.
Contract A: Phase 1 - NX Building
The Department of Public Safety is moving into its new home on the first floor of NX this week. Director Rob Kilfoyle notes that his team is looking forward to being in their new space and having all of their operational and administrative units in the same area. Stay tuned for an invitation to see their space in the fall.
The School of Applied Technology is in their new office space on floors 2-5 in NX. Here are photos of their new offices.
Note that in the picture below, the shelves from the old library were used in the stairwell.
Contract A: Phase 2 – Portions of H, J and N Buildings
Demolition is complete and space rebuilding is in progress. These areas are expected to be ready for September 2016 start-up.
Contract B: C and E Building
The new biomechanics lab will feature the School of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism’s new state-of-the-art motion capture system. With two new fitness labs, as well as the gold-standard Bod Pod, dean Susan Somerville says she and the HRT faculty are looking forward to engaging their students in unprecedented experiential learning.
Contract C: B Building
The School of HRT offices’ move to B building has been described by the project consultants as the “most transformational of all of the backfill projects.” The new space will reflect the school’s values while showcasing hospitality, collaboration and a healthy work environment. Key features include a work cafe, collaborative meeting and gathering spaces, a relaxation space and games room.
So far, drywalling is almost complete, and painting has started. As well, the structural wall will be taken down, which will open up the space to make way for an amazing piece of ceiling millwork. Excavation in the middle of the space is finished, and move-in for HRT is targeted for early October, 2016.
Contract D: JF Building
Construction on Humber’s expanded Child Care Centre in JF Building is to be completed by September 2016 start up.
The concrete floor slab and foundations for the JF-FX link, expected to be completed in October, are the most recently completed construction milestones.
Contract F: D Building
Construction is well underway. The wine/mixology lab will be complete for September 2016.
Three new baking labs, ready for January 2017, will take students out of the basement and place them front and centre in the building, showcasing the teaching and learning that is occurring within the new spaces. According to Susan Somerville, you’ll eventually be able to purchase student baked goods as they arrive fresh out of the ovens.
Adaptable equipment in the new multifunctional culinary lab will allow for flexibility as needs change with curriculum and enrolment. As well, new large-quantity and international equipment – like institutional woks and tandoori ovens – will engage students in multicultural cuisines of the world.
Thank You Notes
The Backfill Projects are a significant opportunity to meet the growing needs of the North Campus, providing new labs, classrooms and office space for Humber’s students, staff and faculty.
The Backfill Steering Committee would like to thank students and employees for their ongoing support and patience during the construction period. While we recognize there has been some dusty and noisy hallways as part of the process, we believe the new spaces will be worthy of the work required to create them.
We would also like to recognize and thank all of the employees and our partners involved in the planning and construction of the new spaces. We appreciate all of the hard work that has gone into the project so far.
For more information or if you have any questions about the project, please contact scott.valens@humber.ca.
We hope everyone has a great summer.
Backfill Steering Committee