Something about the start of a new decade makes us all a little nostalgic — especially when you’re part of a community that is continually growing. If you were on campus 10 years ago, you might be surprised by the many changes that happened at UWaterloo (especially in Arts!)
Making space for Arts
If you haven’t been to campus in a while, you could be forgiven for feeling a little lost among all the new buildings. On east campus, Engineering 5, 6 and 7 and the Autonomous Vehicle Research & Intelligence Laboratory (AVRIL) have surrounded East Campus Hall. Within Ring Road, new comers include Mathematics 3, Environment 3, the Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre, Applied Health Sciences, and the Science Teaching Complex.
Even Needles Hall increased its space, as did the Psychology, Anthropology and Sociology (PAS) building. There’s even a new student residence: Claudette Miller Hall.
Don’t worry: Arts wasn’t left out — but you’ll have to look beyond Ring Road for our biggest development. The Stratford Campus (now the Stratford School of Interactive Business and Design) officially opened in 2012, home to the Global Business and Digital Arts (GBDA) and Master of Digital Experience Innovation (MDEI) programs.
And remember the courtyard outside Hagey Hall? Admittedly, it wasn’t a great place to gather or study. With donor support from alumni and friends, Hagey Hall Hub opened in 2016 and offers students bookable project rooms, a coffee shop and plenty of study space.
Generations of Arts students saw these views of Hagey Hall before 2009.
Hagey Hall today with the Hub in and the School of Accounting and Finance addition.
Signs, signs, everywhere a sign
Speaking of getting lost, the first phase of the Campus Wayfinding Project is happening across campus. The goal is to provide clearly marked pathways and buildings to help everyone get around a little easier, starting with new signs on buildings. (Because it’s handy to know what building you’re about to enter.)
Wondering what the numbers on the sign mean? Each building is assigned a number which never changes, even though the name on the building might. Some units on campus (such as Plant Operations) use numbers rather than names for maintenance and construction or responding to emergencies.
By spring term, free-standing pathway markers will also be in place, as well as new parking and Campus Housing signs.
Watch the Wayfinding video to see what the project will look like when it’s done.
A train runs through it
Bus routes have changed many times over the years, but the biggest change in transportation was the launch of the light rail transit (LRT) in Kitchener-Waterloo in 2019. The ION runs between Conestoga Mall and Fairview Mall with stops in the Research + Technology Park, the Davis Centre and in Waterloo Park at Seagram Drive. Sadly, the Farmer’s Market Trains no longer pass through UWaterloo.
What’s next? Construction has already started on a transportation hub on East Campus so riders can easily connect between busses and the ION.
The centre of campus gets a makeover
You may notice a little less green around the centre of campus, and a lot more social space for students. The first upgrade came to the area around the Dana Porter Library, The Tatham Centre, and Physics buildings. Officially known as “South Commons” — and unofficially known as “Camp Waterloo” — the changes brought more pathways, sunny gold umbrellas, lounge chairs, a bike maintenance station and picnic tables equipped with power outlets for laptops and other mobile devices.
The second change was part of Waterloo’s 60th Anniversary celebrations as a campus-wide competition was held to revamp the Arts Quad. Along with a microchip-inspired paint job, the Legacy Project brought more outdoor seating, games tables, and accessibility features — such as new ramps outside the Dana Porter Library and Arts Lecture Hall.
What’s with all the orange?
Purple has traditionally been associated with Engineering, and where would Math be without its famous pink tie? In 2010, the rest of Waterloo’ faculties got colours too — and we’ve been rocking orange ever since.
Symbolically, orange is often associated with energy, warmth, joy, illumination and excitement. We’ll own that!
In case you’re wondering, Science is blue, Applied Health Sciences dons teal, and Environment is (unsurprisingly) green.
The evolution of Porcellino
Everyone’s favourite boar still stands outside Modern Languages waiting to bestow luck on anyone who rubs his nose. In the past decade, Arts has fully embraced Porcellino as our official mascot, thanks to a little help from the Arts Endowment Fund. He can now be spotted at open houses, convocation and other events, not to mention on t-shirts, signs, pins and other Arts swag. (Yes, he likes snout rubs too.)
Fun facts about Arts*
- Now: nearly 6800 full and part time undergraduate students.
- Then: nearly 6200 full and part time undergraduate students.
- Now: about 38 per cent of incoming students have an average of 90+
- Then: about 21 per cent of incoming students have an average of 90+
- Now: 40 per cent of undergrads are in co-op
- Then: 25 per cent of undergrads are in co-op
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Now: 336 faculty members
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Then: 251 faculty members
In the last 10 years, Arts researchers have collectively been awarded more than $105 million in research funding.
In the last 10 years, Arts has conferred 18,929 degrees, including
- 14,386 Bachelors degrees,
- 4178 Masters degrees
- 365 PhDs
* Source: University of Waterloo key performance indicators 2009-2010 and 2018-2019.
Enter our 60th Anniversary Giveaway!
With Waterloo Arts set to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2020, we’d love to hear and see your memories!
Email us your stories, videos or scanned photos by midnight August 31, 2020. Submissions will be considered for Arts publications and other types of communications. All entries will go into a draw for a Waterloo Arts prize pack valued at $150.
Please email Phoebe Wong at phoebe.wong@uwaterloo.ca to enter!
Feature photo: Close up of the Pickle Forks. Officially titled “A Sculpture Environment” the infamous Hagey Hall Pickle Forks were removed before the groundbreaking on the Hagey Hall Hub. Today, they have a new home outside of the PAS building, and a new arrangement as well!
