St. Lawrence College has embarked on the largest fundraising campaign in its 50-year history. The Uncommon Campaign has a five-year, $11.5-million goal that will transform St. Lawrence College’s physical spaces and further entrench its “students-first” culture and its future as a state-of-the-art learning institution. Called “Uncommon” to reflect the uncommon commitment the College has made to the success of its students and its communities, the campaign is nearly 75% of the way towards its $11.5-million goal less than a year in. Retired KPMG Partner Tom Wightman is leading the 15-member Uncommon Campaign Cabinet of philanthropists and business leaders in their efforts to engage the community.The $11.5-million goal of the Uncommon Campaign will contribute toward an ambitious $42-million overall investment in St. Lawrence College’s infrastructure and student success, which includes student financial assistance,state-of-the-art equipment, and the largest capital expansion project to date at the College.
The new building will add 80,000 square feet to the College footprint,and includes a new Student Life and Innovation Centre, a new behavioural research centre, and new state-of-the-art classrooms and facilities for digital arts and fitness and health promotion on the Kingston campus. The project also involves upgraded health simulation labs on St. Lawrence College’s campuses in Brockville, Cornwall, and Kingston. The construction project will create more than 540 jobs, while renewing,modernizing and greening the Kingston campus.
“The improvements resulting from the Uncommon campaign will be transformative for St. Lawrence College students and the communities we serve.” – Glenn Vollebregt, President and CEO of St. Lawrence College.
“This is about more than just bricks and mortar. This is about putting our students first and providing them with the resources and facilities they need to succeed. Investing in state-of-the-art facilities and technology will support our students’ real-world applied learning, and in turn,many will find employment in the communities that supported them,” says Glenn.
The Kingston portion of the Uncommon Campaign capital build will unfold in four stages, with all work to be completed by Spring 2018, and sets the table for growth and innovation in the College’s teaching and learning,enhances student life, and promotes collaboration with our communities.The first stage sees the College’s campuses in Brockville, Cornwall,and Kingston modernize their health simulation labs. The planned upgrades to the clinical simulation laboratories include advanced technical training equipment and materials to support applied learning and ensure graduates meet the needs of the modern workplace. Half of students enrolled at St. Lawrence College are studying health sciences and health-related Programs. The second and third stages involve the Student Life and Innovation Centre, which will include a new double gym, fitness centre, student lounge, private study rooms, a consolidated space for student services, an expanded Indigenous Centre,upgraded academic space and labs, and a large-venue space for student-run conferences.
The fourth stage will see the historically-designated Newcourt House undergo renovations to create the Centre for Behavioural Studies, St. Lawrence College’s cluster of nationally renowned behavioural science programs. The Centre brings students and faculty together with community organizations to research and develop new approaches in behavioural science. The new Student Life and Innovation Centre is targeting LEEDTM Gold. The renovation of the circa
1840 Newcourt House is targeting a LEEDTM certified designation and is anticipated to be the first historical LEEDTM building in Kingston. A selection of design attributes includes geothermal heating and cooling, LED lighting and daylight harvesting, use of a cistern for soccer field irrigation, maximized use of materials that have regional and recycled content, and Forest Stewardship Council approved wood products. LEEDTM is an internationally recognized sustainable building rating system and is administered in Canada through the Canada Green Building Council. The Uncommon Campaign will continue working towards its goal of raising $11.5-million from the community.
“St. Lawrence College is our communities’ college. Investing in resources for students and keeping infrastructure current and state-of-the-art is also an investment in the communities we serve,” says Glenn. “It will take exceptional generosity from community members and organizations to help us reach our campaign goals, but I’m confident we’ll find the support we need.”
For more information on the campaign, please visit Uncommoncampaign.ca
