Construction manager Richard Baruk reviews plans for the North Campus Student Centre
photo by mark rothen
News Reporter
Demolition has begun in the North Campus Student Centre, marking the start of a $4.8 million renovation project that will create more space for students and student services. It is due for completion at the end of
August.
“The area that you see closed off now in the Student Centre is the first area that is going to be under construction,” said Carol Anderson, director of facilities management.
Anderson said an estimated $3.5 million will be paid by HSF for the renovation, while Food Services is contributing $1.3 million because the Food Emporium is being renovated as well.
The renovation has been in the planning stages for the past year and the demolition – a necessary step in
the construction of one of two mezzanines planned for the centre – began last week.
“The mezzanine outside of Java Jazz will give students a lot more space up top to just sit and have a coffee and overlook the student activities on the lower level,” Anderson said.
Anderson said the other mezzanine, which will be installed above the Food Emporium, will be enclosed in glass and “two thirds of it will be casual study space, group study space, and group-project-type rooms.”
A lounge with a gas fireplace overlooking the amphitheatre will be behind the workspace.
Construction of the first mezzanine will take place at night so it won’t cause a noise disturbance during classes, Richard Baruk, manager planning and construction said.
Once the first mezzanine is completed, the Student Centre will be closed on weekends to allow progress in other areas of the renovation before the centre closes completely for full-time construction at the end of the semester, Anderson said.
HSF President Mike Berg said the Students’ Federation has been saving the money for the project in its student development fund.
“Five dollars from each student per semester goes into this fund,” said Berg. “It’s been pooled for many,
many years.”
In planning the renovations, Berg said HSF consulted students through a series of town hall meetings and surveys conducted over the past few years and got feedback from its board of directors.
“A lot of students mentioned that there’s not a lot of quiet study space on our campus, and that is one of the
bigger things that Humber wanted to provide students with,” said Berg.
Berg said the renovated centre will accommodate new services, including a pharmacy.
“I think it’s very commendable on the Students’ Federation’s behalf to be doing this,” said Anderson. “They really are interested in having, one, a larger event space so that they can have different events down there, and
two, creating more space on campus that we need for students.”