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Newnham Campus expansion

The Newnham Campus Expansion was designed by architects at Dialog (formerly Cohos Evamy Integrated Design), which has worked on projects at many leading postsecondary institutions as well as the International Arrivals Hall at the Calgary International Airport and the national headquarters of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

The construction manager for the building was Ellis Don, one of the largest building contractors in Canada. Ellis Don has previously worked on Seneca projects including the Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Building at our Seneca@York Campus.

Each decision in the planning and construction process of the campus expansion was made with energy efficiency and environmental sustainability as a goal, contributing to Seneca’s application for Leadership In Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold status.

Key environmental features, include:

  • Demolition of the Annex building now eliminates up to $10 million in deferred maintenance
  • Additional green space has been added outside of the expansion, including 700 new plantings
  • Showers on Level 1 for those who want to ride their bike to work
  • Ninety bicycle racks outside of the entryway
  • Permeable pavers and water efficient landscaping that allows rainwater to gather in a pond and be absorbed into the ground
  • Windows on the west side to allow natural light and minimal heat loss during the winter months
  • Durable materials used to increase longevity and sustainability of new building, including concrete floors
  • Low-emission materials used during construction
  • Use of recycled materials in construction

Seneca’s full-time enrolment numbers increased 14 per cent between 2008 and 2010.
In its 42-year history, it is estimated that more than 1 million people have pursued learning at Seneca.

The funding for the Newnham Campus expansion was in response to the surge in postsecondary participation and creates space for additional students at the campus.

Student-focused expansion features, include:

  • 3 80-seat classrooms
  • 23 40-seat classrooms
  • 14 40-seat computer labs
  • Multi-purpose auditorium for 240 students that can be turned into a conference room or two 120-seat lecture halls
  • An increase in computing commons and library space
  • Several new areas of collaborative student work and study space
  • New “front door” for the campus
  • Improved campus access for people with disabilities