We are currently implementing our three-year strategy to lay firm foundations from which we can take flight and soar by focusing on four key institutional goals:
- being devoted to all-things student;
- achieving academic agility and excellence;
- ensuring institutional effectiveness; and,
- embodying Indigenization, equity, diversity and inclusion.
Today, I am pleased to share some exciting news that exemplifies two of our stated goals (numbers 1 and 2) with the opening of Centennial’s Performing Arts Centre!
Key Points of Interest
The new, leased studios bring together our performing arts programs under one roof for the very first time. The 18,000 square feet of space is designed to encourage the 265 students of our Dance Performance, Music Industry Arts and Performance, Theatre Arts and Performance, and Performing Arts Fundamentals programs to explore the limits of their abilities and creativity.
Occupying the entire first floor of 2200 Eglinton Avenue East, the Centre features soundproofed studios and collaborative lounge space punctuated by premium materials and plenty of natural light – the vision of Anne Ma of Gow Hastings Architects. It’s also a short walk from Ashtonbee Campus, where performing arts students can attend their elective classes and access all of our campus services.
This is a huge step forward! After years of renting temporary space for dance, theatre and music students with no room for co-creation, the new centre allows for far more inter-disciplinary synergies and creative cross-pollination, encouraging learners to share ideas and contribute to joint projects and productions.
High-quality teaching space makes a difference. It gives faculty the room to explore new ways of teaching and learning, promotes creative engagement and, most importantly, serves to attract, inspire and retain our students.
My thanks to Dean Nate Horowitz and the School’s Faculty, Co-ordinators and Chairs for coming together with Real Estate and Facility Operations to design the space from a learner-teacher perspective and make it a gleaming reality!
Towards a Campus Master Plan
Ultimately, we want to bring all our programs out of leased space and onto campus to offer students a comprehensive experience where they have full access to co-curricular learning opportunities, recreation, dining, student services, libraries and so much more. Henri Dekker, AVP Real Estate Strategy and Facilities Operations, together with his team, are in the early stages of developing a new campus master plan that will encompass all of our locations.
The Performing Arts Centre is the first of two major new builds this year. I can’t wait to tell you more about the A-Block Expansion project that is rising rapidly at Progress Campus – watch this space!