The Balsillie Campus Construction

Background

The Balsillie Campus is the result of Jim Balsillie’s vision to build capacity in international affairs in Canada and to make The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) one of the most innovative think tanks in the world.

The Campus will house several graduate schools and programs, including the already established Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA). It will cultivate an interdisciplinary learning environment focused on developing knowledge of global issues.

The Campus will create Canadian-based, but internationally focused, capacity in international affairs. It will be a hub of partnership between CIGI, global research institutions and the academic and research community in Canada. As such, a unique “incubator” of ideas will result from the physical proximity of a global think tank, a reputable school of international affairs, academic communities, and other centres of research.

The Campus will be located next to CIGI, in Waterloo, Ontario, 45 minutes from Pearson International Airport and 15 minutes from the Region of Waterloo International Airport. It will also be within an hour’s drive of eight leading Ontario universities, and located in a region that is home to leading technology firms with strong international reputations for innovation and knowledge transfer, as well as a leading institute for theoretical physics.

Funding

On May 25, 2009, the Governments of Canada and Ontario announced that they will contribute a total of $50 million in funding towards the construction of the Balsillie Campus. In addition to the funding provided by the federal and provincial governments, Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of Research In Motion and chair of the board of CIGI, will contribute $50 million to match the governments’ contributions.

The federal government’s contribution is part of its Knowledge Infrastructure Program, an initiative aimed at renewing the infrastructure of Canadian colleges and universities. The provincial government’s contribution is part of its 2009 Budget commitment to invest in Ontario’s colleges and universities over two years.

Construction

The Campus will be the home of several distinct schools and programs, including the existing Balsillie School of International Affairs. The BSIA was founded in 2007, and is a collaborative partnership between CIGI, the University of Waterloo (UW) and Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU). The additional schools and programs that will be housed in the Balsillie Campus are to be determined in the coming months.

CIGI entered the building phase of The Balsillie Campus in August 2009. Toronto-based KPMB Architects were hired in May 2008 to design the new campus. The project manager, Gregory J. Bewick and Associates Limited, was hired in October 2008 and Cooper Construction Limited was hired in April 2009 as the contractor for the project to provide construction management services. This current phase of construction will include two buildings: the first building will house the Balsillie School of International Affairs and an auditorium; the second will house additional academic programs.  

The land of the Balsillie Campus was leased to CIGI by the City of Waterloo for 99 years, with the option for another two 25-year renewal terms. 

Project Status

The Balsillie Campus is scheduled for completion by March 31, 2011.

December 1, 2009:

• The foundations to the north and west block are complete along with the back fill.
• The foundations to the south block are 65% complete with backfill started.
• The foundation work to the east block has started.
• The foundation should be complete by the end of January 2010 weather permitting.
• Site servicing to the inside of the property starts next week.
• Tendering to the building structure is going out this week and will close prior to December 24th.

January 1, 2010:

• The north, south and west block foundations are completed and all back fill has been done as well.
• The east foundation block is still slated for completion by the end of January.
• Tendering documents are coming in now for review.
• Award of contract decisions will be made the end of January and early February for the main components of the building.

February 1, 2010:

• The foundations are 85% complete and should be done in the next 2 to 3 weeks.
• The de-watering system is now decommissioned.
• Underground services are 80% complete.
• Geo-thermal well drilling is scheduled to start next week.
• The pre-cast structural steel tenders have been awarded.
• The bell manufacturer tender has been awarded.
• The form work & rebar tenders are in process and should be awarded this week.
• Mechanical & electrical tendering process is complete and we are now reviewing the package.

March 1, 2010:

• The foundations are 95% complete
• The underground plumbing has begun
• The formwork above ground is ready to start next week
• The Bubbledeck fabrication begins March 15 and the Bubbledeck slabs will arrive on site mid April
• Tenders for Mechanical, Electrical, Pre-cast, Structural Steel, Formwork, Rebar, Elevators, Glazing have all been awarded.
• We have the full building permit from the City of Waterloo

• Foundations complete except for the Service Building - construction to start July  1
• Underground plumbing 85% complete
• Electrical underground 20% complete
• Ground floor formwork 85% complete
• Second floor bubble-deck for the North block has been installed
• North block 2nd floor pour is scheduled for Wednesday, May 12
• West block bubble-deck delivery should be here  Thursday, May 13
• South block delivery of bubble-deck will be the week of May 17
• The Auditorium pre-cast delivery is scheduled for the end of June
• The Structural steel delivery is scheduled for the end of June
• Tenders for paving, Father David Bauer Drive roadwork, and the hydro duct bank, close the end of next week
• Tender for millwork is the only outstanding tender.

• The North block 2nd floor has been poured
• The West block 2nd floor has been poured
• The South block Bubbledeck has been installed
• The pouring of south block 2nd floor was scheduled for the week of June 9-13, 2010
• The Bubbledeck for the 3rd floor north block was set to arrive the week of June 9-13, 2010
• The service building is scheduled to start in late July

July 1, 2010

• The North block 3^rd floor has been poured
• The West block 3^rd floor has been poured
• The South block Bubbledeck has been installed to the third floor
• The Auditorium pre-cast delivery is 50% complete
• The Structural steel assembly is underway
• The service building is scheduled to start in mid-July

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Related Links:

• Industry Canada
• Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
• Ministry of Energy and Infrastructures