UNB Saint John Sculpture

Jhon Gogaberishvili’s sculpture has been installed at UNBSJ.  Here it is in front of the Hans W. Klohn Commons.

Cycling from the uptown to UNB

When I was studying at the Tucker Park Campus of UNB I ventured to the school on my bicycle a fair amount during spring and summer sessions. I lived on the east side and would face the challenge of Foster Thurston or, time permitting, would cut through Rockwood Park.

I’ve biked to the campus from uptown a few time since moving to the urban core (though not as a student with a backpack and a schedule).

I’m interested in the proposal to better link the uptown and the university (along with other north end communities).  Right now a student cyclist would be using a mishmash of streets and routes, some more appropriate for safe travel than others. It will be good to see a more unified route intended for safer travel.

NBCC’s new building

Photo update:

NBCC Energy building

The NBCC Centre of Excellence in Energy and Construction, which was scheduled to be completed in Spring 2011, is still being constructed. It looks like the building is almost ready.

UNB Saint John–University Commons

Photo update:

Campus construction – photo update

University Commons:

Allied Health building:

Roads vs. education

UNB Chancellor and business leader Richard Currie was featured in a Telegraph Journal article that explores the relative spending of provinces on various services. The article points out that throughout the late 1990s to 2007 NB spent more than anywhere else in Canada on roads (per person) and that NB spent the least per capita in Canada on post secondary education.

The article compares these stats with other provinces and the interviewees challenge the government to refocus spending on priorities other than roads.

http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/front/article/1385877

UNBSJ Commons

I haven’t been to the Tucker Park Campus of UNB in a while and haven’t taken any recent photos of the University Commons Building as it expands.

The University has a great album of pictures showing the progress of the project.  Here’s a copy of their most recent picture:

As with many such projects, the Commons could use some more funds.  There’s a page set up for alumni and community members to contribute to the construction of this integrated learning building.

University Commons and NBCC Allied Health buildings – July 19, 2010

Commons building: Allied Health building:

Post Secondary Education buildings – July 2, 2010

I am pretty excited about the University Commons building at UNB Saint John. I am pleased to see it underway as the project has been in the works for a long time. Also on the Tucker Park Campus the NBCC Allied Health building is still underway. On Grandview Avenue, the new energy industrial technology building is pretty significant.

UNB Urban and Community Studies Institute

Dr. Robert MacKinnon, Vice President of UNB Saint John had a commentary in the Saturday Telegraph Journal about the new Urban and Community Studies Institute at the school. This institute will bring together a multi-disciplinary team of researchers to address issues impacting the urban landscape of Saint John and beyond.

It’s news like this that makes me pleased that the social sciences and liberal arts remain strong in Saint John.

UNB’s Saint John campus construction

The new University Commons building is envisioned for this site already being prepped for construction as fundraising continues to support the multi-purpose building.

New parking has been put in place behind the residences to accommodate cars that would have once parked where construction is now taking place.
The NBCC health building is starting to take shape on the edge of the campus near the Regional Hospital Property.
You can tell a push is on to complete the Dalhousie Medical School building (former Saint John College) for its fast approaching opening.

UNB (Saint John) Commons – moving toward fundraising goal and construction

When I was still at UNB there was an unveiling of a large University Commons building concept that would be built beside the Canada Games stadium.  The concept morphed into a renovated Ward Chipman Library.

Ground was broken in 2006 if I’m not mistaken.

From what I’m reading in UNB’s press release, the Commons will once again be a “new” building (a LEED silver building at that), now located near the campus entrance.

Now there’s just the matter of fundraising $5 million and starting construction.

University Commons

The UNB Alumni megazine has an article projecting that the University Commons will be complete within 18 months.  When I was at UNBSJ in 2006 the ground was broken on this project.  Hopefully finding gets and place and it finally happens.

UNB Saint John campus layout changes

As a follow up to my Co-location, Location, Location post I biked to the Tucker Park Campus of UNB Saint John.  To make way for the new health sciences building the portable offices that once sat between the university and hospital have been moved behind the gym. 

Co-location, location, location

The federal and provincial governments have committed funds for UNB Saint John and NBCC Saint John expansions.

This has brought up the discussion of co-location of the two post-secondary institutions.

While local media and business leaders are pushing for more co-location (currently a medical training centre of the Community College will be located at the university campus), some folks aren’t as quick to support this concept. 

Co-location could create some synergies and foster better co-operation between the two schools. However, co-locating at Tucker Park could also put a stain on the campus, if adequate planning is not done.  I don’t recall from my days at UNB Saint John that the campus had too much extra space (lots of land, but parking and cafeteria space were pretty well used).

The debate could lead to some positive solutions that help make Saint John a “smarter city.”  Lets hope it plays out that way.

I for one think it would be great if some of the funds going into post-secondary infrastructure could go to the downtown.  It would be great if the Coast Guard development could feature some post secondary development; the uptown could benefit from students and academics rubbing shoulders with the business and arts community that already populate the city core.

UNB Saint John campus building project

While there is no word on whether the University Commons funding announced for UNB’s Saint John campus will look like the most recent concept talked about with the public (pictured left), both the province and the federal government have committed funds to add to campus infrastructure.  CHSJ News 94.1 reports:

“A major shot of cash for U-N-B-S-J -- Ottawa is committing eight million dollars in funding while the province is coming in with 10-million for expansion plans at the Tucker Park campus.
Vice President Robert MacKinnon says it's part of the concept for the university commons which includes new buildings for students services and high tech library and the Allied Health services component of the Community College.
Total cost of the project is estimated at 25-million dollars.”

New uses for old bank buildings

There is a brief but interesting article on Slate with accompanying slideshow about new uses for old bank buildings.  The article brings to mind the former Bank of New Brunswick building in Saint John that was used an adult entertainment club for a period and is now used as a francophone cultural and business centre.  Also coming to mind is the Grand Hall of UNB Saint John – the former Scotia Bank that is now a banquet hall for the university.

Tucker Park Campus

I have been a critic of the planning that put UNB Saint John outside of the city center. I think the university could better integrate with the community if it were downtown. Still, after once again biking some of the paths on the Tucker Park campus of UNB, it is evident that there are some advantages to being on a big piece of land that isn't facing eminent development pressure.

That said, UNB Saint John might someday be a good site for townhouses or apartments supporting the institutional uses in that part of town.

Med School

A Chronicle Harold article has answered a curiosity I have had about the Saint John medical training program. I was unsure if there were new seats opening up through the program moving into Saint John.

There will be 30 seats at the UNB Saint John-Dalhousie medical program in the Saint John College building. There are currently 20 seats for New Brunswicker's taking the MD program at Dalhousie University. This leaves 10 new seats.

The article also highlights the strength of the locational choice: "it’s also in a very practical location, close to the Atlantic Health Sciences Centre at Saint John Regional Hospital."

It is good to see UNB Saint John's location at Tucker Park in the Millidgeville area of Saint John working as an advantage - there have been many criticisms of the school's less than downtown location.

Perhaps a partnership with the New Brunswick Community College or another institution could bring more medical program to the same location and perhaps create some synergies.