submitted: Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Contracts awarded for College Knowledge Infrastructure Program expansion

College of the Rockies has received a $12.7 million one-time combined grant in April from the federal and provincial governments under the Knowledge Infrastructure Program. The funding will be used to expand the south entrance and renovate part of Kootenay Centre at the Cranbrook Main Campus.

MP Jim Abbott (centre) and East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett (right) break ground for the expansion of College of the Rockies Cranbrook Main Campus while COTR President and CEO Dr. Nick Rubidge looks on.

Member of Parliament Jim Abbott and East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett were on hand to jointly announce the funding at COTR on April 8. Both MP Abbott and MLA Bennett acknowledged their respective governments for this investment in education in the East Kootenay region and the contribution it will make to the regional economy through job creation and the purchase of supplies for the project.

The expansion of Kootenay Centre will see the addition of four to six classrooms, student lounge and offices on the lower level. A new Reception area and lobby on the main level will be backed by major renovations around the existing atrium and south wing to accommodate moving Student Services, Financial Aid and Admissions/Registration to 'front-of-house' in order to provide improved services for students and the public.

The expansion and renovations will also support the incorporation of the University of Victoria's Elementary Teacher Education program into Kootenay Centre. That program is currently conducted in portable buildings on the west side of the campus.

KMBR Architects Planners Inc. of Vancouver has been awarded the contract to supervise the planning and implementation of the expansion. Wales McLelland Construction of Burnaby won the contract as the construction management firm to oversee the tendering of bids for trades and subtrades, and manage the overall construction of the project. The work will target gold certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.

College of the Rockies Director of Facilities Serge Lacroix noted that "this is the first time the College has used construction management methods to coordinate all the trades and subtrades and handle all the bids and tenders."

The expansion and renovations are scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2011.

The Knowledge Infrastructure Program is a two-year, $2-billion economic stimulus measure to support infrastructure enhancement at post-secondary institutions across Canada. As part of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the program provides funding to support deferred maintenance, repair and expansion projects at universities and colleges, and responds directly to the need indicated by post-secondary institutions to improve existing campus infrastructure across the country. Through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, the Government of Canada is contributing $6 million in support of this project at COTR, and the Government of British Columbia is providing $6.7 million.

For more information contact:
Donna Kraus-Hagerman
Director, College Relations and Marketing
College of the Rockies
Phone: 250-489-8258
e-mail: kraus-hagerman@cotr.bc.ca

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