Positioning for Success: King’s Knowledge Infrastructure Program
Watch videos of the construction!Science Wing
Enrolment Services
SAC Hallway
Library recarpeting
Air Intake System
Overview
In August 2009, The King’s University College (King’s) announced Industry Canada approved a proposal from King’s under the federal government’s Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) providing funding for capital projects at King’s at a level of $1.9 million. The KIP grant will cover 50% of project costs, with King’s receiving $947,500 in federal funding! KIP is part of the economic stimulus program announced in the 2009 federal budget which included $2 billion over two years for university and college infrastructure, with the university sector focus on enhancement of research facilities and research capacity.
The KIP Project at King’s provides an integrated plan to upgrade infrastructure in support of faculty and student research opportunities, knowledge development and enhanced student success, and covers three areas:
– Science Research Facilities
– Enhancement of Information Technology
– Upgrade/Renovation of Central Facility
Each of these areas has several components all of which will enhance the research and learning experience for students, enabling King’s to take a major step forward in its knowledge development and research capacity.
Work is currently underway on project components at King’s and must be completed by March 2011 as required under the terms of the KIP agreement.
Successful completion of KIP will position Kings for continued and long term success in providing students with a quality learning experience. This will enhance King’s ability to attract and retain top Canadian and international students, setting them up for success as future leaders with a Christian worldview.
This grant represents a historic breakthrough for King’s as it is the fist time that we, as an independent, faith-based institution in Canada, have been eligible for and benefited from, a broad-based federal capital funding program. This is truly a blessing from God and provides a significant opportunity for King’s to upgrade its infrastructure.
Work on KIP well under way at King’s
Positioning for Success: King’s Knowledge Infrastructure Program responds directly to the challenge posed by the federal government to maintain and develop excellent facilities which promote innovation and contribute to “first class education”. The KIP Project is well underway at King’s with completion expected on the majority of components by August 2010. Students and Faculty Enjoy Campus Wide Wireless access
One of the first components under KIP to be completed was the installation of a new campus-wide wireless computer infrastructure. The University’s former wireless system only provided coverage in select areas of the campus and was replaced by an entirely new system. The new wireless upgrades installed in the core of the King’s network added another layer to the network and it made the wireless internet connection faster, farther reaching and more dependable. This new network has opened up new opportunities for students at King’s as for the first time ever the Tower and Apartment residences have wireless capabilities. With King’s moving towards the challenge posed to provide students with a ‘first-class education’ this new wireless infrastructure is vital to student success.
Computer Research Lab to be located in Library
A new computer research lab is being created in the King’s Simona Maaskant Library and is expected to be completed by early summer. An existing music listening lab is being converted with new computers installed both there, and in the public access area in the Library. These enhancements will effectively double the number of computers for student access. Library flooring is also being upgraded to accommodate these changes and the music listening lab has been relocated to another room within the King’s Simona Maaskant Library.
Science Research Labs a Major Component of Facility RenovationsConstruction is underway on the facility renovation projects being made possible by KIP. Many of these projects have existed in the planning stages for sometime and are part of the overall master plan at King’s, however without funding in place they would have been postponed or implemented over a longer time frame. Work on a number of science research labs has started and central facility renovations are also currently underway, with improvements to be completed before students return to campus in the Fall.
Changes to labs in the science wing at King’s are an integral part of the KIP Project and will improve the overall functionality and efficiency of the research capabilities of the University. Among the changes taking place are the installations of new laboratory fume hoods in the Chemistry and Biology Labs as well as the conversion of an existing classroom to a biology research lab to aid in research of the Boreal Forest. The Biology Lab will have a Molecular Biology Lab and a Dendrochronology (tree ring dating) Lab. King’s faculty conduct innovative and leading research on many contemporary issues such as climate change, conservation of boreal forests, oil sands development and global poverty and provide unique opportunities for undergraduate students to work directly with them on front line research projects. The construction of these labs has included the relocation and upgrading of Physics classroom facilities.
Other facility renovations taking place include the opening up of a main student corridor and the relocation of a number of services to students to better serve their learning needs. When completed, this corridor will centralize Registry, Enrolment Services and Student Life services for students and improve access to the Student Activity Centre. Improvements also include roof repairs and a number of additions and changes to the air intake system.If you are interested in knowing more about the KIP Project at King’s or finding out how you can support this initiative, please contact:
Dr. Harry Fernhout
President
780.465.8302
president@kingsu.ca
Dr. Michael Ferber
Director of Development
780.465.3500 ext 8130
michael.ferber@kingsu.ca
Shannon Tuininga
Associate Director of Development
780.465.3500 ext. 8075
shannon.tuininga@kingsu.ca