Building on Nipissing University's future.

With ever-increasing enrolment figures and a fervent ambition to expand, Nipissing University is playing host to a wealth of construction activity.

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"The school is definitely growing and expanding," says Bob Pipe, spokesperson.

"We're looking to determine what we need to move into the future. As well, we're seeing a space crunch at the university, so these kinds of projects are things that we actually need."

With 3,840 full-time students enrolled at Nipissing University in 2006, the school has seen a notable increase in attendance from a decade prior. In 1996, there were 1,584 students enrolled full-time at the university, making last year's numbers a 142 per cent jump.

In an effort to cope with these growing numbers, the school's various expansion plans include a new 23,000-square-foot, three-storey science wing, which will connect two existing on-campus buildings.

The tendering process is due to begin for the facility in late October, with construction slated to begin next year for completion in September 2009.

The facility will allow for expanded learning opportunities through new laboratories, research equipment and classrooms, and is expected to service a variety of programs including biology, psychology and geography.

What's more, the new science wing will provide sufficient space for the school to begin investigating and considering a variety of new graduate programs. Currently the school has such a program, a Master of Education program. First offered in 2007-2008 academic year, the full-time program currently has 25 students enrolled--a strong showing for its inaugural year, Pipe says.

By creating additional space and expanding the kinds of facilities necessary for advanced research, the school will be able to begin striving for additional capacity for higher-level education through added graduate programs.

As an example of the school's existing ambitions, several of the faculty members in biology and psychology have already received research grants to buy equipment, but lack the space to house it.

"We're looking to expand upon some new areas of excellence, because we don't feel we've reached our full potential in that regard."

To help provide much-needed space to existing programs, however, Nipissing is also in the process of renovating the nearby Precious Blood Monastary, which it purchased in November 2006.

Located on a wooded 23-acre property the monastary's bottom floor has been heavily modified so as to accommodate offices, classrooms and other educational space for fine arts and visual arts programs.

In the coming weeks, work is slated to begin on the main floor to create space for service education and faculty professional development. The second floor will cater largely to the Master of Education program, providing office, classroom and conference space.

Also in development at Nipissing is a 60,000-square-foot library and learning centre, estimated at roughly $20 million. As a joint project between Nipissing and Canadore, the building will be located between the two schools and will reflect a modernized approach to libraries as integrated learning spaces. As a result, rows of books and specialized collections will be interspersed with group study areas and computers.

Still in the early design phase, the plans are currently being created by Diamond + Schmitt Architects Inc., a Toronto-based firm considered to be one of North America's leading library designers, Pipe says.

Rounding out some of the big-ticket construction projects in the works at Nipissing is a new student centre. Although the projected cost and exact size are still being determined, the student-driven project is expected to result in another new building with a variety of features.

"The aesthetic these two big projects are going to give to the campus will be invigorating and vibrant, and will definitely help cement Nipissing's image as a strong and progressive university."

www.nipissingu.ca/

By NICK STEWART

Northern Ontario Business