Several major capital projects are nearing completion on the Queen’s University campus, while others are just getting started. While construction projects on campus have been challenged by supply chain issues due to COVID-19 and provincial labour actions by various trade organizations, on balance staff and contractors have worked together to keep them on track.

The following are a few of the major capital projects underway across the Kingston campus people will notice:

Albert Street Residence

Work on the 334-bed Albert Street student residence building is nearing completion. With the building now sealed against weather, most of the exterior and much of the interior is complete. May saw the installation of the building ventilation systems craned onto the roof of the structure, and the paving of the laneway around the building is now taking place. Furniture will arrive later in the summer, and the building will be open in time to house students this fall.

355 King Street West

The 355 King Street West renovation (the former St. Mary’s of the Lake site) is also nearing completion, with a partial handover of the site from our contractors currently underway. Construction of a wheelchair ramp, slated for the west side of the King Street entrance is still in design, with construction anticipated in late summer.

In early June, several departments will begin moving into the renovated facility, including Facilities, Finance, Procurement, Environmental Health and Safety, Investment, Audit and Risk, and Postal services. The offices of the Vice Principal Research will follow later this summer once the wing on the southeast side is completed.

John Deutsch University Centre (JDUC)

Work on the John Deutsch University Centre (JDUC) is about to begin. Initial moves to temporary locations for several building tenants, including groups such as the Alma Mater Society (AMS), the Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS), the office of the Rector, student clubs, and the Copy Centre, have been initiated. The project is scheduled to be complete in summer 2024.

Duncan McArthur Hall

The Duncan McArthur Hall project is scheduled to get underway this summer, and includes the construction of a new seven-story tower and a renovation of the existing structure. The tower is expected to be ready by late 2023 and the renovation of the existing building will be complete in 2024.

Richardson Stadium Pavilion

Work on the new pavilion at Richardson Stadium is underway with excavation taking place to install the structure’s new footings. The project consists of a structure at the northern end of the Richardson Stadium and is designed to complement the existing landscape of the West Campus. Construction is expected to be complete by the summer of 2023.

Additional projects, Queen’s focus on sustainability and accessibility

There is also a renovation being done to the Leonard Dining Hall and kitchen area, a new Indigenous gathering area outside Mackintosh-Corry, and a reimagining of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre with that construction anticipated to start in summer 2023. 

“All of Queen’s major capital projects are planned to further the academic mission of the university and to enrich the student experience on campus,” says Donna Janiec, Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration). “We focus on a wide array of elements including aesthetics, functionality, affordability, as well as sustainability, accessibility and physical safety and security.”

The focus on sustainability has led to the introduction of technologies such as geothermal exchange systems. The 355 King Street West project features the first geothermal exchange system on campus, and required the drilling of 40 wells in 2021, which were installed under the grounds of the facility. A similar system is being incorporated into the Duncan McArthur Hall project. In addition, the Albert Street student residence, Duncan McArthur Hall, and the JDUC projects are all targeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, which is one of the highest ratings under this worldwide green building certification program.

Accessibility is also a key consideration. In addition to meeting all legislated code requirements, Queen’s has developed the Queen’s University Facility Accessibility Design Standards (QFADS) which goes beyond provincially legislated requirements. 

All major capital projects are reviewed by the Built Environment Accessibility Group and presented at Accessibility Cafés to the broader community to seek their input and feedback into capital projects, according to Vice-Principal Janiec.

“This ensures accessibility considerations are incorporated into every aspect of our projects,” she says. “The group has provided excellent input into various projects including the Albert Street student residence project that aided in room and amenity designs, and into elements like the wheelchair access ramp currently being installed along King Street West to ensure the gradient from the street up to the building is manageable for those using mobility aids.”

Security is also incorporated into designs including features such as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), physical access through pass cards, surveillance cameras and privacy, and the installation of blue light devices. The new projects currently being developed on campus will feature our new blue lights that feature higher visibility.

The university continues to invest in its campus infrastructure to ensure the university remains a vibrant, sustainable, and compelling place for global academic study and research. More information on current projects is available on the Facilities website.