Students are the beneficiaries of a $180 million investment in building projects at Ontario universities and colleges through the provincial government's SuperBuild program, McMaster President Peter George says.

McMaster received $11.3 million today from the newest round of the SuperBuild program. Nine universities, including McMaster, and four colleges received funding to build, purchase or renovate facilities.

“We're absolutely delighted,” said McMaster President Peter George. “This significant contribution from the provincial government is an investment in students and will help us meet the needs of the double cohort class and the projected increased enrolment demand that we expect will continue throughout the decade.

“The government's commitment to our project enhances the University's ability to continue to provide excellence in teaching, learning and research. McMaster University is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation and we're grateful that the Ontario government, with this commitment, supports our vision of opening doors to a brighter future for students. In turn, support for this unique facility will help increase Ontario's competitiveness in the global, knowledge-based economy and in particular, meet the need for skilled leaders in the health care sector.”

McMaster's award will be dedicated to new classroom space in the University's innovative Centre for Learning & Discovery, currently under construction. The $71-million facility will create 1,459 student spaces and 83,000 sq. ft. of research space.

The new multi-purpose building, slated to open to students in September 2004, features technologically advanced classrooms and laboratories, including:

• a flexible 600-seat lecture theatre convertible to two 300-seat lecture theatres to be used by students from all disciplines
• a scientific computing and visualization deep vision display wall to support 3-D projection
• “Smart” podium technology in all lecture theatres
• a rounds room for health sciences students specifically designed to recreate similar rooms found in hospitals and equipped with video conferencing capabilities to interact with students in rural and northern Ontario
• various breakout rooms and tutorial rooms that support the problem-based learning approach pioneered by McMaster faculty.

The Centre for Learning & Discovery is also a state-of-the-art research facility including two floors that will house the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Health research laboratories and research commercialization space.