New McMaster residence to open on schedule despite strikes by provincial trades

Construction projects across Ontario are being affected by striking sheet metal workers.

This provincial labour disruption is impacting McMaster’s building projects, but the university has a plan to ensure its new student residence opens on schedule this August.

The Peter George Centre for Living and Learning will be home to a student residence, classrooms, large lecture halls, eateries, the Student Wellness Centre, the McMaster childcare centre and meeting and lounge space.

“This is the time of year we are beginning to assign incoming students to their residence rooms,” says Kevin Beatty, director of housing and conference services. “We are confident we will be able to house all student qualifying with a residence guarantee. We are looking forward to welcoming our students to their new homes in late August.”

Depending on the length of the strike, other areas of the building may not be ready for September. Planning is underway to find locations for classes, while minimizing the impacts on schedules and timetables.

McMaster’s priority in this planning is to accommodate students who are assigned spaces in the residence and to ensure a successful start to the academic term with sufficient and appropriate classroom space.

Work is underway with the areas which will be impacted by those changes.