Waterloo, Ontario – August 20, 2010 – The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) will hold a photo opportunity and construction site tour of the Balsillie Campus on Monday, August 23 from 10:30 – 11:30 am, marking another milestone in the building's construction progress as it rolls along.
The Balsillie Campus, designed by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects (KPMB), is being constructed on the site formerly occupied by the 19th-century Seagram Distillery in Waterloo, Ontario into an ambitious, new 114,000 sq. ft. academic campus. It is being built beside CIGI, located on the corner of Erb and Caroline Streets in uptown Waterloo.
Nationally recognized for its construction excellence, general contractor Cooper Construction Ltd. of Oakville, Ontario began the three-storey academic facility in September 2009 and completion is scheduled for August 2011. The project is directed by Vice-President of Operations Don Gordon, who is leading the team; Project Manager Bruno D’Aloisio; and Superintendent Art Carr.
Bill Cooper Senior, President and CEO of Cooper Construction, says: “We’re delighted to have been selected as a member of such an outstanding team. It’s an exciting project, and we’re looking forward to our engagement in the design and construction of this unique facility. I consider it a privilege for Cooper Construction to be of service to such outstanding institutions as CIGI and the Balsillie Campus.”
The Balsillie Campus project has one of Ontario’s first BubbleDeck® systems, a revolutionary construction technology developed in Europe that uses considerably less concrete than a conventional poured in place slab and beam system. The principal characteristic of the system is the hollow plastic spheres (balls) used within the floor that eliminate more than 30% of the dead load weight. With reduced floor weight there are further reductions in both columns and beams for greater savings.
KPMB partner Shirley Blumberg will lead the tour. Also, KPMB’s Steven Casey will be on hand to answer questions, as well as civil engineer Andrew Feener, an expert in the BubbleDeck® system.
This project received federal and provincial funding totaling $50 million through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program and Ontario’s 2009 Budget. In total, the governments of Canada and Ontario are investing $1.5 billion in 49 projects at Ontario’s colleges and universities.
This project also received funding of $50-million donation from CIGI founder and chair Jim Balsillie. The City of Waterloo donated the land next to CIGI for the building of the new campus, valued at $5 million.
Upon completion, the Balsillie Campus will create a platform for post-graduate education in international affairs. The campus will house several schools and programs, including the already established Balsillie School of International Affairs.
Please note: Due to space limitations and safety reasons, media representatives are required to RSVP in advance to confirm their attendance. All visitors to the site must participate in a brief safety orientation and wear steel-toed footwear and hard hats. Cooper Construction will provide hard hats only.
For more information about the Balsillie Campus construction, visit: http://www.cigionline.org/project/balsillie-campus-construction
For more information about Cooper Construction, visit: www.coopercon.com
EVENT:
Balsillie Campus construction site tour and photo opportunity
DATE:
August 23, 2010
TIME:
10:30 am: safety orientation
10:35 – 11:30 am: construction site tour
LOCATION:
The Centre for International Governance Innovation
57 Erb Street West, Waterloo, ON
MEDIA CONTACT:
Mary-Lou Schagena
Communications Specialist
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
Telephone: 519-885-2444, ext. 238
Email: mschagena@cigionline.org
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is an independent, nonpartisan think tank that addresses international governance challenges. Led by a group of experienced practitioners and distinguished academics, CIGI supports research, forms networks, advances policy debate, builds capacity, and generates ideas for multilateral governance improvements. Conducting an active agenda of research, events and publications, CIGI's interdisciplinary work includes collaboration with policy, business and academic communities around the world. CIGI was founded in 2002 by Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of RIM (Research In Motion), and collaborates with and gratefully acknowledges support from a number of strategic partners, in particular the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. For more information, please visit: www.cigionline.org
Cooper Construction is a third-generation, family owned Canadian construction and real estate development company, founded in Hamilton, Ontario in 1905. From its headquarters in Oakville, the company conducts business in design/build construction, construction management, and commercial and industrial real estate development throughout southern Ontario. As a leading best-practices company, Cooper is recognized for innovative solutions, high-quality workmanship, demonstrable value and on-time, on-budget delivery of major construction projects.
– 30 –