The Knowledge Infrastructure announcement at Progress Campus, May 29, brought together (from left): Jennifer Leith, Vice President Student and Community Engagement, Toronto Councillor Ron Moeser, Scarborough Southwest MPP Lorenzo Berardinetti, Scarborough-Rouge River MPP Bas Balkissoon, and Brad Chapman, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President Corporate Services.

Centennial College is moving ahead with a visionary plan to construct a new library and classrooms that will add much-needed academic space at its flagship Progress Campus, thanks to a $35-million infrastructure investment by the federal and Ontario governments.

Construction is set to begin in August, with occupancy slated for as early as the summer of 2011. The 104,600-square-foot building, situated just north of the main campus entrance, will include a full-service library as well as 22 additional classrooms, lab space and a large lecture theatre. The project is supported by the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP), a federal-provincial initiative to renew Canada's college and university campuses.

"We're delighted by the news that our bold library project has earned financial support from two levels of government," says Ann Buller, Centennial College President and CEO. "It's wonderful to see our colleges recognized by both Ottawa and Queen's Park for helping to develop the advanced skills so essential to Canada's growth."

The new library will offer state-of the-art technology with both in-house and remote access to digital resources, as well as print and visual media collections. The learning-centred environment will be open, dynamic and physically adaptable to accommodate various needs. A ‘Learning Commons' will function as a gathering place offering a gallery, small performance area and classrooms with instructional technology and presentation technology suites.

Under KIP, Ontario will invest $27.7 million towards the new building and the federal government will provide $7.3 million in support. Centennial itself will contribute $5.8 million towards the $46-million project, which is expected to create about 460 construction jobs. The new library is part of a $143.5-million rejuvenation plan for Ontario's oldest college. Centennial is planning for additional enrolment growth when its campuses are linked by Toronto's proposed light-rail transit lines.