What’s old will be new again
Four large, modern classrooms coming to W-wing next summer
A little-known space in an underused corner of MRU’s Lincoln Park building is about to find new life. Students and faculty from all programs will be able to enjoy new, flexible learning spaces next summer when they open on the third floor of the W-wing.
Previously, the area was the site of the Mount Royal Conservatory. The space has sat empty since 2015, when the Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts opened and the Conservatory was relocated there. The old, empty practice rooms and offices are being converted into four large classrooms as well as study alcoves in the main W-wing corridor.
“It’s a pretty quiet part of campus right now,” says project manager Justin Trotta. Access and Inclusion Services has offices across the hallway, as do the Mount Royal staff and faculty associations. Nursing is also located next door.
Conceptual design of the new W-wing classrooms.
The new development will span approximately 1,000 square metres and include two 78-student standard classrooms, a 56-student flexible learning space and a 56-student active learning classroom. There will also be study alcoves in the main corridor.
“These new spaces will not only allow us to better accommodate students on MRU's campus, but will also create new options for different types of learning environments,” says Phil Warsaba, vice-provost and associate vice-president, Students. “We’re excited to see the final result. I anticipate this area of the building becoming a much more popular place to be in the future.”
Trotta says demolition will be finished in December and then construction will begin. The new spaces will be open for booking next summer.
Facilities Management hopes to minimize disruption to people in the area by maintaining access and scheduling noisy work and any required outages after hours. “Offices in the area will be notified when outages are scheduled,” Trotta says. Students who use a nearby study area can opt instead to use Q312.
More project information is available here.
The project website will also be updated with information about the renovations planned for the old Library space in G-wing off Main Street on the first floor. Last spring, Mount Royal received $50 million in capital funding from the provincial government and a $15 million donation from Don and Ruth Taylor and the Taylor Family Foundation to develop the large space into a student-centred area. That space is scheduled to open in 2023.
Questions and concerns may be directed to Facilities Management at fm@mtroyal.ca.
Nov. 16, 2021 — Melissa Rolfe
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