Frequently asked questions
- Why is Laurier building the Global Innovation Exchange (GIE)?
- Where will the GIE be located?
- Who will be moving into the GIE?
- Why will Business and Mathematics be located in the GIE?
- How will Arts, Sci. & Grad. Studies benefit from this facility?
- What will the building look like?
- How big is the building?
- What services will be offered in the building?
- Will there be new programs created?
- Are all Laurier faculty and staff permitted to use the GIE?
- How does the GIE fit into the overall Campus Master Plan?
- Will there be environmentally conscious elements to the GIE?
- What will happen to the areas vacated by those moving?
- Will those at 255 King Street move back to campus at some point?
- Will Peters & Schlegel occupants move to the arts buildings?
- Where will faculty and classes who used St. Michaels move?
- What interim moves are planned during construction?
- What are the plans for parking?
- When will construction begin?
- When will people move into the building?
- Will there be a skywalk across University Avenue?
- What will happen to the daycare at St. Michael’s campus?
- When did Laurier acquire the St. Michael’s school building?
- When was St. Michael’s school built?
- What other Faculties have had recent building renovations?
- Who is designing the building?
- How much will the project cost?
- Who is paying for the project?
The Global Innovation Exchange facility on Laurier’s Waterloo campus is a key component of Laurier’s Campus Master Plan, which was endorsed by Laurier’s Senate and approved by Laurier’s Board of Governors. The GIE, and the people and programs housed within it, will meet the growing demand for enrolment in Laurier’s business and math programs and support Canada’s future business leaders. The facility will expand Laurier’s ability to deliver integrated and engaged learning opportunities to students at the local and global level.
This transformative building will be designed as a state-of-the-art educational facility, which will not only enhance Laurier’s community presence through its University Avenue streetscape, but will also increase collaboration with Laurier’s partners around the globe through technologically advanced classrooms and meeting spaces.
The GIE will be located on the site of the former St. Michael’s school on University Avenue West, between Hemlock and Hazel streets.
Programs, research and professional centres from Laurier’s School of Business and Economics, as well as the Department of Mathematics, will be moving into the GIE.
Housing Laurier’s School of Business and Economics together with the Department of Mathematics in the GIE will not only meet increased enrolment demands for these programs, but will also enhance the synergies between Laurier’s business and applied and financial math programs, serving as an iconic representation of the leadership role Laurier plays in Canadian and global business and Waterloo’s technology industry.
Laurier has played a key leadership role in educating the business leaders of Ontario’s successful high-tech sector and Canada’s financial services sector. The GIE will build on these results with additional capacity to educate the business leaders of Ontario’s green economy and by creating new opportunities for innovation and collaboration.
These Faculties will benefit directly from the GIE, as the facility will increase available space in the Arts, Schlegel and Peters buildings.
The GIE facility is also a benefit to the university as a whole, providing a modern state-of-the-art building, giving Laurier increased streetscape presence in the Waterloo community, increased visibility and exposure for the university overall, and an increased opportunity to collaborate with local organizations.
The GIE will be designed as a state-of-the-art educational facility with classrooms and meeting spaces equipped with technology to increase collaboration with Laurier’s partners around the globe. The exterior design will enhance Laurier’s presence on the University Avenue streetscape and serve as a landmark building that symbolizes the importance of the study and application of the management of innovation.
For more detailed information about the building, review the fact sheet and facility renderings on this website.
Facility spaces will include a two-level auditorium with seating for 1,000, nine lecture halls (75-300 seats each), computer and math labs, meeting rooms, faculty offices, administrative offices, a café, student club support space and an Atrium.
A new program was recently developed that combines the Bachelor of Business Administration and BA Financial Math into a double degree. The first cohort began in 2010. This program exemplifies the type of synergy that already exists between the School of Business and Economics and Mathematics. Sharing physical space in the GIE will provide further chances among financial and applied math, finance, accounting, and economics (among others) to develop further partnerships for degrees that will be sought out by undergraduate and graduate students during the decades to come.
Yes. Meeting spaces and the auditorium may be booked by the university community through the university’s regular booking procedures.
The GIE is integral to Laurier’s Campus Master Plan, and was identified as the highest priority for capital investment put forward to the provincial government for investment in Laurier’s Waterloo campus.
The GIE is being designed to achieve a minimum LEED silver certification. Specific features of this level of LEED certification will be provided as facility specifications are finalized.
The spaces created on Laurier’s Waterloo campus by those moving to the GIE provide a positive opportunity to re-envision the Peters and Schlegel buildings and the mathematics area in Bricker Academic for academic and academic-support areas. A process will be put in place to develop a plan for the vacated space. Consideration will be given to the best use of space to support academic programming, faculty, students and staff. Updated information and opportunities for input will be provided as it becomes available.
Any decisions about locations of various groups as a result of the new GIE facility will be examined in a holistic manner as part of the plan to develop the vacated space. Consideration will be given to the best use of space to support academic programming, faculty, students and staff. Updated information and opportunities for input will be provided as it becomes available.
Any decisions about locations of various groups as a result of the new GIE facility will be examined in a holistic manner as part of the plan to develop the vacated space. Consideration will be given to the best use of space to support academic programming, faculty, students and staff. Updated information and opportunities for input will be provided as it becomes available.
The Registrar’s Office is currently working closely with the departments to develop new class schedules that will accommodate the former St. Michael’s classes.
The St. Michael’s building does not house faculty or staff offices; therefore, no interim moves are necessary during the construction period.
Regular updates about parking availability during the GIE's construction phase, expected to begin in March 2013, will be posted to this site as information becomes available.
Site preparation for the Global Innovation Exchange (GIE) building began in early September 2011, with a purple hoarding fence placed around the site to provide protection from construction activity.
Demolition of the former St. Michael’s school on the site was completed in 2012, and the project is now in the design phase. Design work will continue behind the scenes until the start of construction, which is anticipated to begin in March 2013. Updates will be provided as details become available.
It is estimated that the construction process will take a total of four years; estimated occupancy would therefore be spring 2015.
The skywalk was part of a proposal to connect the GIE to the proposed Learning Commons facility; the skywalk will not be constructed until funding is secured for the Learning Commons.
Laurier is working with the YMCA to transition families to alternate daycare arrangements prior to the end of August. In the upcoming months, the university will be working to find a permanent solution to the closure of the daycare facility and will keep members of the Laurier community informed of our progress.
Laurier acquired the St. Michael’s school building in 2001.
Buildings such as the Dr. Alvin Woods (Arts) and music buildings are among those that have recently been through a major refurbishment.
The estimated cost of the GIE project is $103 million, including renovation costs to the Peters Building.
John Milloy, the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, announced June 20, 2011 that Ontario’s provincial government would make a $72.6-million investment in the GIE. This represents the largest single capital investment in Wilfrid Laurier University’s history.
Laurier has accelerated its fundraising efforts to raise the remaining $30 million of the project cost.
To discuss supporting the Global Innovation Exchange, please call 519-884-0710, ext. 2053 or email maitken@wlu.ca.
