The Balsillie Campus Construction

Project Members: Government of Canada, Government of Ontario, and Centre for International Governance Innovation

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.

August 1, 2010

Auditorium