Windows To The Future
Grebel’s original 60-year-old residence building has been a beloved home to decades of students, but it now requires urgent improvements to the air handling systems, washrooms, and plumbing infrastructure. These essential upgrades will enhance the building's overall functionality and efficiency, and contribute significantly to our environmental goals, as well as student satisfaction and comfort.
Last year, we marked Grebel’s 60th anniversary, celebrating a remarkable community made up of inspiring scholars, students, and alumni like you.
The first building at Grebel was the student residence. It's also 60 years old – with sixty-year old plumbing, heating, washrooms, and so on. Many of these building systems are well past their expected service life, and their time is almost up. We recently refurbished the kitchen and dining hall, and it's now time to renew the residence itself to serve future generations of students guests.
Our goals are to replace aging infrastructure, make the residence more comfortable for residents, improve our energy efficiency, and significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
While we are still developing the final scope of the project, our hope is to install energy-efficient heat pumps to provide both heating and (for the first time) cooling during hot summer months. We're also planning to improve air quality and ventilation, replace aging pipes and plumbing, and renovate the washrooms to provide more comfort and privacy for students and rental groups.
Taking these steps not only demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship, but also shows commitment to students, who rightly expect us to respond to the climate crisis in meaningful ways.
Grebel does not receive government support for capital projects like this one. Raising residence fees to pay for these projects would be a burden to students and their families – who are already paying more for university education than any previous generation.
Our goal is to raise at least $4,000,000 for these projects, and we've already received close to $3,000,000 in donations and pledges from generous supporters. Will you consider joining them? Your gift will help create a more welcoming, liveable, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible residence for the next generation of Grebel students.
With gratitude,
Marcus Shantz | President, Conrad Grebel University College
A Plan For Our Planet and Our Students
In 2023, the Grebel Board and Administration committed to joining the University of Waterloo's Shift:Neutral climate action plan and pledged to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030, compared to our 2019 emission levels. Grebel's Green Team is spearheading initiatives to help us reach this goal. 16.1% of this goal will be achieved with this residence renewal project.
“As a residence that houses students year-round and conference guests during the summer, a comfortable and inviting atmosphere is a must! By updating the HVAC systems and adding AC, not only can Grebel become more environmentally sustainable, but we can also become a more comfortable place for students to study, collaborate, and live in community together.
Campaign Launch Video
Maya Morton Ninomiya
4th Year Health Studies
“This is a critical time at which we get to decide how much we want to reduce the harm that is currently befalling our planet. As a student, I am surrounded by people who either are, or who have the ability to influence the next generation. Educating on climate change and instilling passion in students is an extremely potent and necessary opportunity that must be taken advantage of.”
Consistent heating and cooling are vital for creating a comfortable space for students and conference groups. Improving indoor air quality and reducing pollutants is increasingly important as the climate changes. Renovated washrooms will provide functional, gender-neutral spaces to make the residence more welcoming and inclusive.
Electrifying the domestic hot water system and using high-efficiency air source heat pumps will lower Grebel’s overall energy consumption and reduce GHG emissions. Donors and students expect Grebel to make sustainable choices and be a leader in reducing the College's carbon footprint by 35%.
By investing in ongoing improvements, Grebel’s updated, inclusive facilities will attract more students and conference groups in the summer, increasing both occupancy and revenue. Additional residence revenue can lead to better services, facilities, and programs that directly benefit the student body and add to the overall student experience.
By addressing aging infrastructure now, we will prevent costly repairs and keep the building up to date. New HVAC systems will provide operating efficiencies. Investing in our student residence ensures long-term financial health and stability, benefiting current and future generations of students.
What We Need To Raise
We estimate at least $5,000,000 will be needed to complete all of the potential projects.
At least $4,000,000 must be raised from private donors. Grebel does not receive capital funding from governments. Moreover, the entire Ontario university sector, including Grebel, is currently challenged by a multi-year freeze on operating revenues. This means that there is no operating surplus from which capital projects could be financed.
As of March 28, 2025 $3.3 million has been given or pledged!
Would you consider making a lead gift to this critical campaign?
Contact:
Marcus Shantz, President
Fred W. Martin, Director of Advancement
Alumni Residence Room upgrade campaign
Make a direct contribution to Grebel's greenhouse gas reduction goals by pledging to upgrade the HVAC in a residence room. A gift of $10,000 will help to cover the cost of replacing HVAC in a residence room, perhaps in the very room you lived in. You may want to consider splitting the cost with your past roommate. Pledges can be made over 5 years.
Donation Tracker
Stories Behind the Rooms
Every room at Grebel holds stories—late-night conversations, lifelong friendships, and unforgettable moments. By sponsoring a room with your old roommates, you can keep some of those memories alive while helping future students create their own. Below are some of our room sponsors, spanning Grebel's 60+ years!
King Horiguchi (PHD 1969) and Eric Friesen (BA 1969)
In memory of Larry Goucher (BES 1973)
The Lobe Family: Joshua, Leanne (BES 2001), and David (BA 2001)
Mark Lichty (BA 1984) and Steve McDowell (BA 1982)
$10,000 will help upgrade the HVAC in one residence room
With 70 rooms to renew, help us reach our goal of $700,000 to upgrade our HVAC system and improve air quality in the residence.
Pledge on your own or gather your former roommate, and pledge together!
-
$10k per window/Room ($167/month x 60)
-
$5k with your roommate ($84/month x 60)
Campaign Advisory Committee
Jim Tiessen
BASC 1987
Advisory Committee Member
"I lived at Grebel for eight semesters while completing my engineering degree. The Grebel residence program provided me with more than just a place to sleep and eat but a home and a community to help me navigate the rigours of a demanding university program. The Grebel residence experience helped me transition from living with my parents to becoming a productive member of society. I am supporting the residence upgrades to ensure future generations of residents have a secure and comfortable place to call home as they grow into productive members of society at UW."
Kirk Schmidt
BMATH 2004
Advisory Committee Member
"Grebel was a place where I belonged - where I found friends that I would stay in contact with to this day. It was a place that allowed me to explore who I was, and it was always welcoming of who I became. This campaign is important to me because it's about giving back to that place."
Anita Tiessen
BA 1981
Advisory Committee Member
“Grebel stands out at the University of Waterloo for both the residence component and for academic offerings. The main part of the residence building is 60 years old. Any building that age is starting to need major improvements. In order to continue to attract students to the residence program, the facilities need to be upgraded. While infrastructure isn't the most exciting thing to talk about, it is vital to Grebel's ability to continue to attract students. It is also an opportunity to make the facilities more "green" - an initiative that the Board strongly supports. As a Grebel alum and current board member, I am happy to support this capital project to update the residence and move Grebel toward more "green" operations.”
Donny Cheung
BMATH 2001, MMATH 2003, PhD 2007
Advisory Committee Member