The space formerly known as “the Darling Street hole” is finally no more, and school administrators are announcing that the Brantford Research and Academic Centre (BRAC) will be ready for its grand Fall 2010 opening. The new school building, which resides at 150 Dalhousie Street, has been a long-awaited major addition to the growing campus, but the wait is nearly over.
Antonio Araujo, director of Campus Operations has a solid answer: “The west wing will be ready for use as of September 2nd,” says Antonio Araujo, director of campus operations at Laurier Brantford. “The east wing will be completed on March 31.”
As for whispers of delays and setbacks, he squashes those rumors squarely.
“We’re actually one week ahead of schedule.”
It seems as though it won’t be long before students can experience the fruits of the university’s labours. How sweet exactly are these fruits? Here are some of the major perks of the new space: a large lecture hall on the ground floor and two smaller ones above, all of which will include integrated technologies and power outlets for every chair; 41 slick new offices; a “living wall” featuring growing vegetation; a large student lounge; and a coffee kiosk that can be expected to move in at a later date. The building, as indicated by its name, will also house several research labs, a move that signals the campus’ potential shift towards more government grant-friendly studies.
Also, the campus’ bookstore will be relocating mid-October after the student rush in September. The dean’s office will be moved into the BRAC building along with IT and Media Support Services. Other expected move-ins includes dozens of professors currently scattered around the campus and Student Publications.
Other major campus projects include the former CIBC bank turned university building on the corner of Market and Dalhousie, now called the SC Johnson building after a $1-million donation from the company in May. The building will be ready for use in September.
