Trent University Proceeds with Construction of $12.5-million Health Sciences Facility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 19, 2008

Trent University’s Board of Governors today gave approval to the awarding of a contract for the construction of a new Health Sciences facility on the east bank of the Symons campus.

The construction contract for the $12.5-million project was awarded to M.J. Dixon Construction Limited after a public tendering process.

The 49,000 square foot facility, to be built with $9.8-million in funding support from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, will serve as a home for the University’s Nursing, Psychology and Anthropology programs, and reinforce the University’s reputation as a leading institution for delivering quality health care programs to students.

Bonnie Patterson, President and Vice-Chancellor, expressed appreciation to the Province for its commitment to Trent University’s future.

“Trent University is very grateful to the Honourable John Milloy, Minister of Training Colleges and Universities and Jeff Leal, MPP, Peterborough for their solid commitment to Trent and for the investment of $9.8-million in the new Health Sciences facility,” said Patterson. “This project is another important milestone in Trent’s commitment to construct facilities that will enhance the student learning, teaching and research environment. In the absence of this grant, it would not be possible to proceed to construct this facility in the current economic climate.”

Highlights of the facility include:

• New space to showcase Trent University’s Nursing program, and the expansion of collaborative Nursing partnerships with Fleming College and community colleges, including bridging programs for Fleming’s Registered Practical Nursing program

• Construction of a new nursing centre learning lab

• New and relocated labs for the Psychology and Anthropology departments

• A new home for Trent’s research labs affiliated with Canada’s Research Chairs in Emotional Health and Archaeological Studies

• A potential Master’s in Psychology degree (submitted to the Ontario Council of Graduate Studies for approval)

• A new platform to support the networking of Trent faculty affiliated with the centre of health studies

• Opportunities to create new research linkages between Psychology faculty and Teacher Education faculty, as part of potential Master’s in Teacher Education degree to be considered for the future

• Opportunities to backfill current facilities with emerging needs

The facility, to be built at the north end of the existing DNA complex, includes two storeys, eight wet science labs, classrooms, and new offices for faculty and staff.

Construction of the project is set to begin immediately with a completion date of September, 2011.

At the time of the Provincial funding announcement, President Patterson noted how the facility will serve as a driver to establish new collaborations with Fleming College and the college sector, together with the new Peterborough Regional Health Centre, the Local Health Integration Network and emerging organizations such as the International Consortium on Anti-Virals.

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For more information contact:
Brittany Cadence, Communications Officer, (705) 748-1011, ext. 6185