Finally! Arts breaks ground for new student space

It was a wildly unpredictable day of snow, rain, and sunshine, but that didn’t stop the Faculty of Arts from holding a successful groundbreaking ceremony for the new student space to be built over the courtyard of Hagey Hall.

Dean of Arts, Doug Peers (middle) with students Dylan Ball and Hannah Beckett

During a precipitation-free spell on Tuesday, Dean Doug Peers spoke to a gathered crowd of students, faculty, staff, and project architects and planners about this long-planned construction project to create new and better study/social space for students. Following the Dean, students Dylan Ball, president of Arts Students Union spoke, and then Hannah Beckett of the Arts Endowment Fund board, talked about the importance of creating this hub for Arts students to gather and work.

With the actual ground breaking (or concrete jackhammering) planned to start next month, the multi-level atrium will be built above courtyard of Hagey Hall, adding approximately 9,000 square feet of study and project rooms on the upper levels and a commons area on the ground floor, with coffee and food services. The grand opening will be in summer 2016.

"In order to provide Waterloo students with the most fulfilling university experience, they should have an enriching campus life to accompany the excellent education they receive," said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor in a media advisory announcing the ground breaking. "There are a number of projects in the works that will have a positive effect on the Waterloo student experience. This one directly answers the call for more study and social space for arts students, who have played a key role in its planning and design.”