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As Concordia celebrates its 25th anniversary, it is about to embark on the most comprehensive program of relocation in its history -- a bold expansion of its downtown facilities and revitalization of the west-end campus.
Construction plans include new facilities for the Faculties of Fine Arts, Engineering and Computer Science, and Commerce and Administration, as well as a new building for the sciences. All are now severely crammed, scattered, housed in substandard facilities, or suffer from a combination of the three.
CTR has met with representatives of these areas, and found a shared enthusiasm for the University's ambitious upgrade. Remarkably, in planning for educational facilities for the 21st century, faculty members from disciplines as wide-ranging as Design Art and Chemistry emphasized academic trends and requirements that were often surprisingly similar.
Without exception, members of all faculties stressed how computers have dramatically changed their disciplines in the last few years. From printmaking in Fine Arts to the design of bridges in Engineering, all fields have undergone a profound technological overhaul since their current facilities, like the Henry F. Hall Building and the Visual Arts Building, were first occupied. Concordians are therefore clamouring for state-of-the-art, wired, "intelligent" buildings.
Another shared theme is increased cross-disciplinary study within the Faculties. Civil engineers have crossed paths with computer scientists; biologists with chemists; sculptors and painters with computer animators. All Faculties anticipate heightened academic cross-fertilization when their departments are brought together. In addition, most call for flexibility within the new structures to be able to accommodate future academic developments. (See article 16 ) - Frank Kuin
