David Ellis Architect Inc. has been awarded a major contract to oversee Algoma University's conceptual planning and upcoming campus renovations.
The Sault-based architect was introduced as the winning bidder, chosen from five applicants, at a Tuesday-night meeting of the university's board of governors.
Value of the contract wasn't disclosed as some payments will be a percentage of projects that have yet to be estimated or tendered.
But the magnitude of Ellis's Algoma U. job is clear from the lengthy to-do list his firm will be working on over the next six months with its project partners at Toronto-based international professional services firm IBI Group Inc. The following project descriptions are based on the university's request for proposals, issued March 12:
- develop campus master plans for the Sault Ste. Marie and Brampton campuses. This project includes consultations with university stakeholders including staff, faculty departments, physical plant department, community partners, Shingwauk Kinoomag Gamig, Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association, Shingwauk Education Trust and Algoma District School Board. The campus master plan will review allocation of space across both the Sault and Brampton campuses, defining future development, suggesting possible uses for lands currently held and those that may be acquired. The master plan will also assess and identify infrastructure requirements, current and future capacity, and identify future university investment or expansion priorities
- develop a conceptual plan for the existing East Wing - Sault Ste. Marie campus, to create a more prominent space of provincial and national prominence as a ‘national training centre.' Ths renovation will enhance and raise the profile of the main entrance and outer facade of the building. It will also include a renovation and possible expansion of the Shingwauk Residential School Centre, modernizing existing classrooms in that wing with state-of-the-art technologies, renovating and upgrading public washrooms, upgrading archive space, renovating the current Doc Brown Lounge into a new, state-of-the-art, culturally sensitive training and instructional space. The new main entrance to the East Wing must be tied into the new main entrance concept for the new School of Business & Economics main entrance, but must not clash with the existing historical Shingwauk Hall main entrance
- relocate the three computer labs from the North Wing (Level 2), down to the North Wing (Level 1) – currently the used as a campus bookstore
- relocate the existing university bookstore from North Wing (Level 1), up to the North Wing (Level 2) – currently the three computer labs, where it will be more exposed to student traffic
- Relocate the existing Algoma University Student Union (AUSU) offices from North Wing (Level 1), up to the North Wing (Level 2) – currently the three computer labs, where it will be more exposed to student traffic
- upgrade the existing North Wing (Level 3) main corridor, adding new window screens, corridor lighting and ceilings, and updating overall decor, such as new flooring and painting
- renovate the North Wing (Level 3 - NW307 office area), and create a new ‘Student Success Central’ office pod area
- collaborate and consult with a student planning team to develop a concept and renovate and upgrade the existing student bar lounge (Speak Easy) on the North Wing (Level 2), by creating a warm, coffee-house like feel (i.e. ski lodge theme), and construct an atrium-style addition at the east exterior patio area, add gas fireplace units, reduce size of bar, etc.
- minor renovations to International Student Lounge at Shingwauk Hall (Level 2)
- construct a new private recruitment office within the university recruitment office area, at Shingwauk Hall (Level 3) and small space enhancements that showcase this space to visitors, and potential students. Project construction for all areas related to classroom instruction or student support services, must be 100 per cent completed by September 1, 2019; and all other areas completed by October 1, 2019
Ellis is known for his involvement in projects including: Algoma University's biosciences and technology convergence centre, John Rhodes Community Centre, Sault Area Hospital, Group Health Centre, F.H. Clergue French Immersion School, the new Boreal French Immersion School, major health development projects in Malaysia and post-secondary schools in the U.S. midwest.
IBI Group has worked on campus master plans at other post-secondary institutions including York University and University of Guelph.
Ellis's consultation and planning work will also be assisted by an indigenous architect from Oneida Nation: Brian Porter from Two Row Architects, who worked on Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig's Anishinabek Discovery Centre.
Trina Cooper-Bolam from Carleton University will advise on historical aspects of indigenous design elements.
Two Sault engineering companies, NorMech Engineering and STEM Engineering, will also be involved.
Ellis said last night that he's especially excited about the new national training centre, which he said "will shape the entire university for years to come and shape the university in a unique position amongst Canadian universities and run parallel to the school's mandate of cross-cultural teaching and training."
Ellis said a great deal of his contract work must be completed by October.
"Although we won't have all the construction finished for October, we will have some of the smaller projects finished. But we'll have the master plan. We'll have concepts.... It's the ground work. The project doesn't end in a year. It will continue on. By the end of the year we'll have that road map."
Neil Munro from IBI Group dropped a few hints about the master plan's possible approach to campus land use.
"It's quite clear. We aren't going to be developing a concept of redevelopment of lands say, to the north of most of the complex," Munro said.
"Most of the facility growth would occur within a footprint of Mark Street south to where the tennis courts or soccer fields are. On a realistic basis, we don't want the campus to be spread out. We want it to be throughfully grown."
In other news, Algoma U's board of governors approved a $38-million operating budget last night for the 2019-20 fiscal year.
"The budget is based on enrolment growth of approximately 20 per cent," the university said in a written statement following the closed-door budget deliberations.
"Early indicators, including a record spring intake, secondary school application increases of 33.5 per cent for the fall term, an increase in diploma-to-degree applications and strong international application data suggest the university is on track to meet its enrolment target."
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct quotes which were inadvertently attributed to Jorge Garcia. In fact, those quotes should be attributed to Neil Munro.