12
view . summer 2011
GETTING TO
THE CORE
UWINDSOR TO LAUNCH DOWNTOWN CAMPUS
The University of Windsor has announced it will relocate its
Music and Visual Arts programs to the historic Armouries
building in downtown Windsor. The move will be made
possible thanks to the City of Windsor’s capital donation in
addition to $10 million in funding, and the Ontario
government’s $15 million contribution.
The May 30 announcement also noted the launch of
an RFP process to investigate the feasibility of moving the
School of Social Work to the Windsor Star building in the
downtown core.
“We are delighted that the City of Windsor and the
provincial government have come together in support of
the University of Windsor,” said Dr. Alan Wildeman,
University of Windsor president and vice chancellor. “With
the support of Mayor Francis and City Council, the belief
of Minister Dwight Duncan and Minister Sandra Pupatello
in our University and this city, to understand our capital
needs and long-term goals, we can now begin to realize our
aspiration to create inspiring spaces for our students in the
downtown, and facilitate in an unprecedented way the
ability of our University to contribute to the social and
artistic fabric of our community.”
The University will engage architects to re-imagine the
Armouries as a new space for Music and Visual Arts, programs
with close to 500 students, in addition to faculty and staff.
Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis said, “Bringing the
University of Windsor into the city core has long been a
vision of council; today we take another step to build upon
the academic footprint in our downtown. This is a major
move in the revitalization of our city centre. I’m proud to
welcome the University and its students into the downtown.
On behalf of Council, I want to thank Dr. Alan Wildeman
for his vision, the Province, and Ministers Duncan and
Pupatello for their continued support.”
Dwight Duncan, minister of Finance and MPP (Windsor-
Tecumseh), said, “Today’s announcement is a clear example
of our commitment to postsecondary education, families and
our strong partnership with the City of Windsor. I look
forward to working with the University of Windsor to create
exciting new facilities and to develop an education cluster in
the downtown core.”
Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development
and Trade and MPP (Windsor West), said, “I’m proud of the
ongoing support our government has provided to Windsor-
Essex. These new facilities will enhance our downtown core
and will be enjoyed by families, faculty, students and tourists.
This is another good example of what can be accomplished
when we come together with a shared vision and partnership.”
The School of Social Work has approximately 830 students,
faculty and staff who work with several agencies downtown.
In explaining why this program will also be relocated,
Dr. Wildeman said: “Moving the social work program
downtown presents an opportunity to significantly broaden
the bandwidth between important academic programming
and the needs of our community.” He also noted the central
location of the Windsor Star building between St. Clair College’s
Centre for the Arts and its Mediaplex building as an opportunity
to create synergies between the two institutions.
n
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Visit
for more
information.
Windsor mayor Eddie Francis, MPPs Dwight Duncan and Sandra
Pupatello, and UWindsor President Alan Wildeman pose outside the
Armouries.
BY LORI LEWIS
