BoR votes to approve new capital projects at the Goldring Student Centre and E.J. Pratt Library
On October 12, 2023, the Victoria University Board of Regents (BoR) voted to approve major renovations at the Goldring Student Centre (GSC) and E.J. Pratt Library.
The principal capital project set to take place at the E.J. Pratt Library is a roof replacement. After years of wear and tear, the protection provided by the rooftop has reached the end of its useful lifespan. Due to inflation, increased labour costs, and global supply chain complications, the project is budgeted at around one million dollars, including contingency and taxes, which is higher than the original estimate prepared in 2021/22. While expensive, further deferral of the renovations will reportedly pose risks to the continuity of operations in the building and cause water damage, potentially to the library contents.
The renovations set to occur at the GSC fulfil the long-standing vision outlined by Victoria University in the Ten-Year Capital Plan and Five-Year Strategic Framework. To establish a single location where students can go to access the services they use most, the Office of Alumni Affairs & Advancement (currently on the third floor) will move to accommodate the Office of the Registrar and Academic Advising, which is expected to occupy the second and third floors of the building’s east wing. This shift requires the construction of new office spaces on the second floor, activating incomplete shell space in the Regents’ Foyer, and other minor modifications to the first and third floors. The Office of the Dean of Students will remain on the first floor. With a completion date of July 2024, the anticipated project cost is approximately $1.5 million, a significant reduction compared to the Board’s initial estimate.
Victoria University administrators suggest that the recently approved renovations will bebeneficial for students. In an email interview, Victoria University President Rhonda McEwen stated, “While the Goldring Student Centre has the word ‘student’ baked into its name, the reality is that every building and outdoor space on our campus is in service of Vic U students… The changes in the Goldring Student Centre will consolidate the spaces for the Office of the Dean of Students, the Office of the Registrar and Academic Advising and the Writing Centre under one roof. This colocation offers students a one-stop approach to accessing resources, such as academic advising, mental health and wellness resources and writing support. We are taking an expansive approach to student services, ensuring easier access to student-focused resources.”
On the other hand, students express concerns about the upcoming renovations. In a request for comment, second-year student representative on the BoR Amy Mann stated, “I think the E.J. Pratt roof fix is great and is important for upkeeping student spaces. On the other hand, $1.5 million is a lot to spend to add more office spaces for administrators. The ballooning cost of administration is a big problem across the university, and we should be concerned if administrative spaces start to replace student spaces.”
Shane Joy is a member of the BoR as the VUSAC President.
