Campus renovations begin

Beginning May 19, the Waterloo campus of Wilfrid Laurier University will undergo significant landscaping renovations. The project will cost approximately $1.5 million and is expected to finish Friday, September 4 before the Labour Day weekend.

“It’s quite a big project,” commented Gary Nower, assistant vice-president of physical resources.

The renovations were designed with a few various objectives.

“The main driving force was to improve accessibility of the two parts of campus that we’re doing,” commented Mark Dettweiller, manager of facilities and planning.

“We wanted to make it a more person focused landscape area where people can gather in,” Dettwieller continued, referring to the area from Mid-Campus Drive to the Fred Nichol’s Campus Centre (FNCC).

“We see the way things are laid out right now as more of a thru-way than a gathering place. We’re hoping, that by providing the additional landscaping and the amphitheatre to turn it into more of a public space.”

In addition to this, eliminating the stairs from the Dr. Alvin Woods Building (DAWB) to the Schlegel Centre and creating a vehicle turn-around and drop-off point will increase accessibility.

Renovations include:

Reconstruction of the walkway linking Mid-Campus Drive to the FNCC to eliminate stairways

Construction of a new public amphitheatre and open space in the dining hall quad, including provision of a patio for the Grad Student Association Pub

Construction of a barrier-free pedestrian walkway from the Arts Building to the Seminary; handicapped parking and drop-off zones at the DAWB and the Seminary

Reconstruction of parking lot 13 and the Albert Street entrance to eliminate vehicle circulation from Bricker to Albert