The contractor working on the new Innovation and Wellness Centre will be taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of people walking around the site as construction forges ahead this fall.

EllisDon says it will be setting tight controls and closely monitoring the gates to the site, which is located at the corner of Union and Division streets in the heart of campus. Additionally, the company will be carrying out some fencing upgrades and repairs around the construction zone.

Construction will continue through the academic year ahead of next fall’s grand opening of the centre. In the near future, crews hope to remove the shoring that is supporting the heritage façade so they can begin rebuilding and repairing the south-facing exterior wall of the building.

Additionally, they will be working on the building’s roof, completing some final excavation and rock breaking, and working in and around the John Deutsch University Centre and Athletics and Recreation Complex. Queen’s Project Manager Franco Lora says there may be some noise or smell in the area as a result of this work, and those with concerns should contact Physical Plant Services at fixit@queensu.ca.

There have been shovels in the ground on this project since last September. Workers are turning a nearly 90-year old physical education building into a modern centre to house new Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science laboratories and classrooms, a cutting edge innovation centre, revitalized and expanded wellness services including a new health clinic and an assessment centre, additional athletics resources, and food retail and lounge space.