Brad Duguid, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, joined Humber President and CEO Chris Whitaker and other college officials, community leaders and post-secondary education partners today to celebrate the start of construction on the Humber College Learning Resource Commons project.

Located at Humber's North Campus in Etobicoke, the new Learning Resource Commons is a six-storey, 260,000 square-foot academic support and student services facility that will become the new main entrance to the campus.

Highlights of the facility include: 

  • a new library 
  • group and independent study spaces 
  • a centralized hub for student services 
  • a student gallery and showcase space
  • space for the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and college administration

In addition to the post-secondary education benefits, the project will create employment in the construction sector. Approximately 150 workers are expected on site each day at the peak of construction activity, and the project will generate economic spin-offs that will benefit the entire community. 

The new building will be modern and sustainable, designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver certification.  

The building team includes PCL Constructors Canada Inc. (developer and constructor), B+H Architects (lead architects), and TD Securities Debt Capital Markets (financial advisors).

The fixed-price contract between PCL and the Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is for $84.2 million, and will be paid by the province and Humber College when the project is complete in spring 2015 to ensure the project is delivered on-time and on-budget. Ontario is contributing $74.7 million towards the overall initiative, including work that has already been completed.

Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown agency of the Province of Ontario that delivers large, complex infrastructure renewal projects on time and on budget. Over the last six years, the province has applied Infrastructure Ontario's alternative financing and procurement model to 83 major projects valued at approximately $38 billion, saving taxpayers an estimated $3 billion. Infrastructure Ontario also manages one of the largest real estate portfolios in Canada, provides municipalities and eligible public sector clients with financing to renew public infrastructure and leverages its private-sector expertise to manage major commercial transactions on behalf of the province.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca or www.humber.ca for more information. 

Quotes:

The Honourable Glen Murray, Minister of Infrastructure 
 “This is an important milestone for Humber College. It demonstrates our government's commitment to investing in educational infrastructure while creating value for Ontarians.”

The Honourable Brad Duguid, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities

“By investing in infrastructure for postsecondary education, we are stimulating the economy, creating jobs and building spaces to train the highly skilled and educated workforce that is needed for the future.”

Dr. Shafiq Qaadri, MPP, Etobicoke North 

“I am thrilled to see the Humber College project take this next step and I look forward to seeing the new Learning Resource Commons come together.”

Chris Whitaker, President and CEO, Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning

“Humber works hard to ensure that our students have the optimal education experience both and in and outside of the classroom. From new library facilities, to accessing all student services under one roof, to having a place to study or hang out with friends, the Learning Resource Commons is the latest initiative to provide students with services and resources to meet their needs.” 

Contacts: 

Shawn Yu  
 Infrastructure Ontario    
(416) 212-0637  

Andrew Leopold
 Humber College
(416) 675-6622 ext. 4296

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