York University's student body becomes first in Canada to secure innovative capital project financing for new Student Centre

TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2016 /CNW/ - The York University Student Centre, a student levy funded organization overseeing the operation of the existing Student Centre building, has successfully secured innovative financing for the construction of a second Student Centre building on York University's Keele campus. The 126,000 sq ft building was designed by global design firm CannonDesign with EllisDon contracted for construction services. A formal groundbreaking ceremony is planned for Thursday to announce construction and celebrate this achievement. The building is expected to open in Spring 2018.

The project has received praise from Jennifer Keesmaat, Toronto's Chief Planner, commenting that, "the modern, iconic 4-storey multi-purpose building that has been designed to overlook Roy McMurtry Green will undoubtedly become a campus landmark and lasting testament to the commitment and vision of today's York University students. Once built, the new Student Centre will represent the culmination of a lengthy and complex process that was initiated, led and funded by the student body in a unique development partnership with York University and the City of Toronto."

Ontario's Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, MPP Glen Murray has also congratulated the student body for their commitment to sustainable design for the building that is expected to achieve LEED Silver Certification.

"I am proud of the student leadership for their years of committed consultation and engagement to ensure direct community involvement in the environmental design and development of this project.  Their dedication to understanding complex development processes and making them accessible to the broader community is at the heart of community support for this project. Truly a model of how development should occur," says Murray.

SOURCE YORK UNIVERSITY STUDENT CENTRE

Siva Vimalachandran, Director, Projects and Organizational Development, York University Student Centre, [email protected], [phone]; Alexandria Williams, Chairperson, York University Student Centre, [email protected], [phone]