Proposed space plan for Concordia University

Intensive work has been done over the past nine months in determining the realistic physical space needs of the university. This plan is based on the academic plans approved by University Senate, principles established by the University Long-Term Space Development Steering Committee, extensive site visits, and departmental needs analyses, as well as projected enrolment, faculty and staff levels. The Rector's Cabinet and the Real Estate Planning Committee of the Board have reviewed the overall plan and have approved it in principle for submission to the Board of Governors.

Sir George Williams Campus

The Sir George Williams Campus will be consolidated into a well-defined area bordered generally by Sherbrooke St. on the north, Guy St. on the west, Ste. Catherine on the south and Bishop St. on the east.

* Through the use of signage and creative urban planning design, an urban centre campus will be created with a distinct identity that will ensure that the area within our boundaries will be immediately recognizable as "Concordia University grounds." Negotiations will be undertaken with the Ville de MontrŽal to establish major and minor gateways to the campus, to effectively narrow de Maisonneuve Blvd. from Bishop to Guy and MacKay St. beside the Hall Bldg.; and, over the long-term, to incorporate Place Bethune into the campus.

* The site directly south of the GM Bldg., the York Cinema site and the property on Guy between de Maisonneuve and Ste. Catherine will be developed for new Concordia facilities. The new development will be distinctive and will be a landmark within the Montreal region. A national architectural competition has been undertaken to ensure that this goal is achieved.

* In order for the university's space requirements to be realized, the university must build to the maximum site potential for the "south of the GM Bldg./York Cinema site" and the "Guy/de Maisonneuve" sites. The university will request that the City modify the zoning by-laws accordingly.

* The "south of the GM Bldg./York Cinema site" will accommodate the visual arts and facilities for the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science. For Engineering and Computer Science, the new integrated complex will house faculty, the great majority of its research activities and its graduate students. The visual arts will be consolidated, over time, in the new complex in space specifically designed for the requirements of the various visual arts programs.

* The "south of the GM Bldg./York Cinema" complex will also contain retail space and parking facilities.

* The "Guy/de Maisonneuve" property will be the new home for the Faculty of Commerce and Administration. The building will also contain advanced classroom facilities and a Sir George Williams Campus recreation and fitness centre.

* The Hall, McConnell, Faubourg and Guy Metro Buildings will be retained.

* The Hall Building will be restored as a primarily academic facility and will house the social sciences, undergraduate teaching facilities for the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science and major upgraded classroom facilities.

* The McConnell Building will contain expanded library facilities, the humanities and the Department of Instructional and Information Technology Services (IITS).

* The Faubourg Tower will contain the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, as well as the Centre for Continuing Education.

The Guy Metro Building will be integrated into the new Engineering and Computer Science/Visual Arts Complex and will contain student services, student association activities and the university's administrative offices.

* In addition to the student facilities housed in the Guy Metro Building, student areas will be created throughout the campus in such a way as to facilitate student and student/faculty interaction and to accommodate specific activities that are Faculty or departmentally linked.

* The two complexes will be linked by underground tunnel.

* Concordia University will move out of the annexes and rented facilities so that at least 95 per cent of its space will be in owned facilities.

Proposed Sir George Williams Campus

Loyola Campus

All activities at Loyola will be consolidated on the main campus grounds.

* The east side of the campus will become the home for the performing arts. The long-term plan calls for the construction of a new performing arts centre on the site that currently contains the east-campus parking lot and the Physical Resources Building (the old Loyola arena). The new facility will be connected to the current Student Centre, which will be renovated for the performing arts, and the Oscar Peterson Concert Hall.

* The Vanier Library will remain generally unchanged except for the reconfiguration of some of the non-library space in the building.

* Student activities, teaching facilities, certain Arts and Science areas and administration will occupy the Administration, Central and Refectory Buildings. The Refectory Building will become the new Student Centre.

* Psychology will continue to occupy their current facilities in the PY Building.

* A new science complex will be constructed on the west side of the campus, consisting of two new buildings and integrating the Bryan Building. These will be the home of major new research facilities and graduate student space. The Bryan Building will be renovated for faculty offices and teaching facilities. Biology, Chemistry, Exercise Science, Physics, major elements of Psychology (eg. CSBN, cognitive studies) and various research centres will be housed in the new complex, as will animal care facilities and the Science Technical Centre.

* The Drummond Science Building will be renovated to become the new home for Communication Studies and Journalism.

* Proposed locations for the Loyola International College include the renovated Hingston complex and the Vanier Library expansion.

* Residence space will be increased on the Loyola Campus either through the construction of new facilities and/or the renovation of existing buildings. The acquisition of the Jesuit Residence will be actively pursued.

* In addition to the student facilities housed in the Refectory Building, student areas will be created throughout the campus, and a student services centre added.

* The buildings on the Loyola north campus will be connected by above-ground walkways. New parking facilities will be built on the northwest side of the campus.

* A major renovation and enhancement of the Athletics Complex incorporating new fitness and recreation facilities, gymnasiums, physiotherapy facilities and a swimming pool will be undertaken.

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Priorities * The development of the west side of the Loyola Campus -- the integrated science complex, renovation of the Hall Building space being vacated by the sciences, renovation of the Drummond Science Building, acquisition of the Jesuit Residence and construction of the new parking facilities. * The first phase of the Engineering and Computer Science/Visual Arts integrated complex, incorporating the Engineering/Computer Science facilities, approximately 11,000 m2 of Visual Arts space, and renovations to the Hall and McConnell Buildings. * The first phase of the Commerce and Administration complex on the Guy/de Maisonneuve site. This includes construction downtown of recreation and fitness facilities, new classrooms, and renovation of part of the GM Building. * The first phase of the new Athletics Complex at Loyola. Architectural competition The architectural design competition has completed its first phase -- an open invitation to firms to express interest -- and is ready for the second phase, the competition for building on the Loyola Campus. Forty-seven firms ex-pressed interest in the projects on one or both campuses. These were carefully analyzed by the design competition committee, and a dozen finalists were chosen, seven for Loyola and five for downtown. Committee Chair Lydia Sharman (Design Art) said that a competition brief was expected to be finalized soon for Loyola. (That project will come first, because the site and criteria are generally less complex than those for the downtown site.) When the submissions come in, a jury composed of Concordia representatives and architects will choose the winning plans. The Concordia community will have a chance to see the finalists' submissions at a vernissage. The members of the committee that worked toward this competition for the past year are Lydia Sharman, Martine Lehoux, John Locke, Osama Moselhi, Claude BŽdard, George Adamczyk (Director of Architecture, UniversitŽ de MontrŽal), Jonathan Wener, Garry Milton and Rector Frederick Lowy

Open meeting on the university's long-term space plan: Monday, March 6, 5:30 to 7 p.m., H-110 , Henry F. Hall Building.