The $50-million plus transformation of Lambton College is underway.
Heavy equipment is now on site and land is being prepared for construction of two new world-class facilities on campus.
"It's very exciting," says college President Judith Morris. "When I came in right after Christmas and I saw a backhoe, I can't tell you how thrilled I was that we were beginning that wonderful journey to some beautiful new buildings. It's well on its way and we're seeing lots of movement."
The 60,000 sq ft Nova Chemicals Health & Research Centre will feature health simulation labs, interactive learning studios and research space while the 40,000 sq ft Athletics & Fitness Complex will include a double gymnasium and multi-purpose fitness and studio spaces.
"It's going to be very attractive to people wanting to come to Sarnia-Lambton, which is really what it's all about," says Morris. "We need to support the community in its growth. We need to be able to have the best facilities to train the best employees for industry and for businesses and that's exactly what we're doing."
Temporary classrooms have been set up in the parking lot to accommodate students displaced by construction or renovations on campus.
"They consist of seven individual classrooms," says Morris. "It's actually quite attractive and much more technologically set up than the old traditional portables."
A major renovation of existing facilities is also in the works.
About 43,000 sq ft of the first floor and lower level of the most southerly block of the campus will be upgraded thanks to a $11.8-million funding commitment announced last fall.
"While we're doing that, we're going to be moving lots of people out of that area and into the center part of the building and into the north building," says Morris. "So lot's of moving around for people and that's frustrating and irritating but at the end of the day, we're going to have some wonderful facilities."
If construction goes as planned, Morris says students will first move into the Centre of Excellence in Energy and Bio-Industries in late spring 2018, the Athletics & Fitness Complex in September 2018 and the Nova Chemicals Health & Research Centre in January 2019.
