Royal Roads University, through a partnership with two levels of government, announced a $21.5 million investment on Thursday that will see an expansion to the Centre for Environmental Science and International Partnership at the Colwood-based school.
The investment includes major renovations to the Mews building, a century-old heritage structure, and the construction of a two-storey addition.
The total project will add 4,800 square metres to the centre and the adjoining addition will include three environmental science teaching labs and applied research space. Student learning commons, computer labs, wet labs and academic support services will also be part of the addition.
“It really combines the old and the new but makes it an environmentally sensitive, sustainable building and brings it into the 21st century so we’re excited about it,” said RRU president Allan Cahoon.
Funding for the project comes from four sources, with the federal government kicking in the biggest share at $9.3 million through its Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund. The Province will also contribute $5.7 million.
A $5 million private donation from philanthropist Dr. Sherman Jen and $1.5 million from the university will provide the final $6.5 million.
Jen’s funding will allow the centre to include a student commons to promote international and intercultural understanding.
“It’ll give us a centre to have our undergraduate students, international, First Nation and domestic students…all co-located right in a newly renovated building and state-of-the-art facilities,” Cahoon said.
Renovation work on the Mews building has already begun. The provincial and federal funding requirement is that the project should be substantially completed by April of 2018.
The university also has a $28 million proposal in front of the government for an academic learning centre that would work alongside the school’s existing learning and innovation centre, but no funding has been received as of yet.
“That would be our first priority after this building is on its way,” Cahoon noted.
The funding announcement comes on the heels of reports that the Department of National Defence is exploring the possibility of parting with the Royal Roads property, with Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations expressing interest in the land.
Cahoon said that possibility hasn’t affected the university’s latest projects.
“We’ve been assured both by DND and by interested parties that the operation and integrity of Royal Roads as a campus and our buildings will be maintained,” Cahoon said.
“We understand the direction that the DND is going and we understand the First Nations reconciliation and treaty process. I think this investment confirms again that the province is supporting Royal Roads as a special purpose university.”
The university isn’t directly involved in ongoing negotiations between the First Nations groups and the federal government, but are consultants and observers to the process.
“We’re willing to work with the parties, we understand the agenda and we appreciate their support for our continuance,” Cahoon said.
joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com
