TORONTO, May 29, 2009 -- Osgoode Hall Law School at York University will be renovated completely and expanded with $25 million of federal and provincial government investment under the Knowledge Infrastructure Program. 

 

Peter Kent, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas), announced $12.5 million in federal stimulus funding for the project at Osgoode today.

 

"This Government of Canada investment in the York University Osgoode Renovation and Expansion will not only expand one of Canada's foremost law schools, but will also provide a significant short-term economic stimulus to this corner of the GTA and will create jobs in this region," said Kent. “Our government is investing in innovation to create jobs, to help our economy recover quickly and to improve the quality of life for Canadians.”

 

The Ontario government announced a commitment of $12.5 million in matching provincial funding.

 

“Investing in people and skills is a priority for the Ontario government,” said John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. “Through these investments, we are not only creating construction jobs today but providing more resources for students and faculty to anticipate the needs of a new economy and help shape Ontario tomorrow."

 

It was the second announcement of infrastructure funding for York in a week: on Monday, the two levels of government announced $70 million in funding for a new Life Sciences Building at York.

 

The $25 million in funding announced today will be used to redesign and renovate almost 200,000 sq. ft. of advanced learning and research space, and create more than 20,000 sq. ft. of new space. The project will allow Osgoode to accommodate an increased number of graduate students, dramatically improve its teaching facilities and student community space, and house six legal and interdisciplinary research centres or units. Osgoode has raised $10 million in private funding to help meet the cost of the project.

 

 “Our government is boosting our support for postsecondary infrastructure to give colleges and universities the support they need to build and improve their facilities.  By investing at York University  today, we’re strengthening our economy by creating jobs in our community and ensuring students can learn in modern, state-of-the-art facilities,” said Mario Sergio, MPP for York West.

 

The renovation and expansion of Osgoode’s 41-year-old building, which is expected to take about two years, will commence this summer.

 

"I want to thank the federal and provincial governments for their vision and their understanding of the importance of funding the postsecondary sector," said York University President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri.  "This investment in Osgoode Hall Law School is a vote of confidence in York, and it will help us build a better learning and teaching environment for our faculty, students and staff."

 

The project is targeted for a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) CI Silver classification.

 

"This is the most important development for Osgoode since our move to York 40 years ago. It will transform our building into one of our greatest assets, giving us a student-centred facility that is the best amongst Canadian law schools and amongst the best in North America,” said Osgoode Dean Patrick Monahan. “I am enormously grateful to President Shoukri for his vision and commitment to making what has been a dream for the entire Osgoode community for many years now into a reality."

 

York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 11 faculties and 26 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.
 

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Media Contact:

Alex Bilyk, Director, Media Relations, York University, 416 736 5603 / bilyk@yorku.ca