Rayna Luther says there are some exciting things happening at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland in Corner Brook.
Last Thursday, Luther, the director of facilities management at the campus, presented a project update on four of those things to the Rotary Club of Corner Brook during a luncheon meeting at the Quality Inn.
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The projects include the Grenfell pool/regional aquatic centre, the Western Regional School of Nursing, the Centre for Research and Innovation and a welcome centre. In the case of the first three, partnerships with other businesses, facilities and agencies in the city and surrounding area will play a role in advancing these projects.
Here’s a look at some of the things Luther outlined in her presentation:
Grenfell pool/regional aquatic centre
Grenfell has been selected by the City of Corner Brook and its regional partners as the preferred site of the new aquatic centre for the region. A request for proposals for consulting services on concept and design for the pool is expected to be awarded in the next few weeks.
Future plan
- Select and work with the consultant on program development on what the regional facility would look like
- Consult with stakeholders to get input on what people would like to see in the facility
- Explore repairing the existing 25-metre pool
- Potentially add some extra square footage, to expand what is currently in place and be able to add some additional features
- Among the potential features being looked at are a leisure/hot pool, therapeutic pool, waterslide, fitness centre, daycare and incorporate existing gymnasium
- Look at the potential for other amenities
- Secure funding for the project
Western Regional School of Nursing
There are no plans to incorporate the nursing school, currently located at Western Memorial Regional Hospital, into the new hospital design. Relocating the school to Grenfell has been under consideration for some time now and has been discussed in of past, current and future infrastructure plans for the university.
Current status and future plan
- Grenfell is currently completing a space inventory and study of the usage of the space at Grenfell and the nursing school
- It’s also looking at shared services — there wouldn’t need to be a duplicate of things like human resources, the registrar’s office and the book store
- A nursing school would require dedicated space for things like simulation labs
- A review of class schedules at both institutions — can they be merged to enable the university to start offering some of the nursing school course at Grenfell
- Develop potential floor plans for the nursing school
- Look at potential locations for additional space at Grenfell — both current space and possible additions
- Draft memorandums of understanding with MUN, the Western Regional School of Nursing and Western Health
Centre for Research and Innovation
This is a partnership between Grenfell Campus, the City of Corner Brook, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper and the College of the North Atlantic. The centre will be located in the former Corner Brook Pulp and Paper human resources building and include space for research activities, training, a business incubator, makerspaces and the city studio project.
Current status
- Working through MUN’s procedure for approval of major capital projects
- MUN and Corner Brook Pulp and Paper are negotiating terms on the lease of the space
- Partial funding has been secured to hire consultant
- A request for proposals for consulting services has been issued
- Future plan
- Engage a consultant to design the building
- Continue to work through MUN’s procedure for approval of major capital projects
- Secure funding for construction
- Issue a public tender for construction
- Complete the renovation
Welcome centre
Grenfell is currently looking at creating a welcome centre to better serve students and the public who come to the campus. Luther calls it a one-stop-shopping area where people can access the key services that they need in one place.
The recruitment division, which is currently located in a temporary building, would be relocated to the welcome centre.
Future plan
- Conduct brainstorming sessions with staff on students and determine what kind of services should be offered in the space
- Determine how much space is required
- Look at options for where to create this space on campus, ideally utilizing existing space
- Create a construction estimate
