view . spring 2012
13
CAMPUS
NEWS
The University of Windsor will purchase The
Windsor Star building as the new home of its
popular School of Social Work and the Centre for
Executive and Professional Education (CEPE).
A feasibility study was completed by CS&P Architects
to re-imagine the property for the University of Windsor,
and as a result, the Board of Governors voted in favour
of the purchase on
November 22, 2011.
Dr. Alan Wildeman,
president and vice-
chancellor, made the
announcement during his
keynote address at the
annual general meeting of
the Windsor-Essex Regional
Chamber of Commerce the
following day.
“The purchase of
The
Windsor Star
property
is the first step in the
University of Windsor’s
plan to transform the
landscape of our campus to
more firmly anchor our commitment to being a student-
centred university,” he said. “This acquisition is part of the
broader vision to support the priorities identified in our
strategic plan with capital projects. Our campus will change
dramatically as opportunities are identified and new
construction replaces out-dated facilities that no longer
align with the vision for our institution.”
Some of the other changes identified in the master
plan include the need for a centralized welcome centre,
a consolidation of student services into one building, a
new home for the bookstore, reconstructing the south
wing of Essex Hall and constructing an Innovation Centre
combined with a new
parking structure at the
corner of Wyandotte
and California.
The potential
purchase of
The Windsor
Star
property was first
announced in May
2011 with the news that
the University would
relocate its music and
visual arts programs,
and film production to
the Armouries building
in downtown Windsor
thanks to the City of
Windsor’s capital donation
in addition to $10 million in funding, and the provincial
government’s contribution of $15 million.
The University will release architectural designs for the
new Social Work and CEPE facility, and the Armouries in
the months to come.
DOWNTOWN CAMPUS RECEIVES OFFICIAL GREEN LIGHT
The Windsor Star
building will be renovated as part of the
downtown campus.
