Ribbon cutting marks official opening of Environment 3

In photo (left to right) Kevin Knapp (President Environment Students’ Society, Don Cooper (Senior Vice President Operations, Cooper Construction Ltd), André Roy (Dean, Faculty of Environment), Feridun Hamdullahpur (President, University of Waterloo), John Milloy (Minister of Community and Social Services and Government House Leader, and MPP Kitchener Centre), Peter Braid (MP Kitchener-Waterloo) and Steve Woodworth (MP Kitchener Centre)

A bright but chilly day marked the official opening of Environment 3 as students, staff, faculty and government officials came together for the ribbon cutting celebration.  Ministers Peter Braid and Steven Woodworth, along with The Honourable John Milloy were on hand to represent the federal and provincial governments, who together, through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP), contributed $14 million to the $23 million project.

Following Ministers Braid and Milloy’s remarks, President Feridun Hamdullahpur joked that he hopes to have the ministers back on campus very soon to open more new buildings. Don Gordon, Sr. VP Operations, spoke on behalf of Cooper Construction about the rewards and challenges of working on a LEED Platinum-targeted project and thanked the many trades and subcontractors involved. Environment Students’ Society President Kevin Knapp had the last word, bringing greetings and expressing gratitude on behalf of the student body. The event was hosted by Dean André Roy.