UBC Okanagan getting over $40.6M for new learning centre, building upgrades

KELOWNA – Provincial, federal and university contributions have combined for an over $40.6 million investment in the UBC Okanagan campus.

Funding for a renewal of the existing library and its exapansion into the new Teaching and Learning Centre was announced today, Dec. 2, along with upgrades to 11 other buildings on campus.

The new Teaching and Learning Centre will include a digital technology centre and visualization lab with the capability to facilitate high resolution data modelling, according to a B.C. government media release. Such models are useful to research fields like advanced manufacturing, materials science and sustainability.

The expansion of the library and creation of the new centre will cost about $35 million. The federal government is kicking in about $14.5 million, with over $10.6 million from the province and roughly $9.8 from the UBC Okanagan student body. Both construction projects are slated for completion by April 2018.

"This investment is a testament to student advocacy," Student Union president Blake Edwards says in the release. "In 2014, students voted 'yes' to #morelibrary and agreed to contribute $10 million towards a larger, enhanced library. The student contribution reaffirms that this has been a necessity for our campus."

As well, over $5.6 million in funding will pay for what the province calls sustainability upgrades to 11 building on the UBC Okanagan campus. Along with over $3.5 million from the university, the federal government is adding about $3.5 million and the province is chipping in $719,000. Some of the money will help pay for services and utilities to the new UBC Innovation Precinct at the campus.

The projects are expected to create an estimated 137 direct and 103 indirect jobs, the release says.

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