Merlin House Residence Highlights Busy Summer Schedule

As always, construction and maintenance crews have been working hard all summer to get Fanshawe ready for the fall semester. The College has about 140 projects on the books for 2009, with approximately 50 scheduled for completion by September.

Fanshawe's new Merlin House student residence

In recent years, Fanshawe has undertaken a variety of projects aimed at making our main campus more energy efficient. That trend continues this summer as we install new electrical controls, HVAC systems, and other environmentally friendly infrastructure upgrades. We also continue to work on technology improvements and routine maintenance across campus.

Here are a few highlights from the current cycle:

• Contractors are putting the finishing touches on Fanshawe's brand new Merlin House residence, which will open as projected in September. At a price of about $27 million, the residence will be home to 428 students, bringing our on-campus housing capacity to approximately 1,200 beds. Our existing Falcon House residence is also being upgraded where necessary with fresh wallcoverings, new carpets, and other cosmetic improvements in several suites and lounges.
  
  
• We are in the process of consolidating photography facilities into existing photo studios in D-Building as part of a wider plan to make better use of space on campus. The move will provide room for Co-op and Career Services to co-locate in new offices in the fall.

Photo facilities in D-Building

• In response to an urgent need for classroom space, we have converted several conference rooms into small classrooms. We have created two new laptop rooms and turned a dedicated computer lab into a shared lab. We have also converted two computer labs in A-Building to combined computer lab/classrooms or "CLABS" with desks that house computer equipment - the monitor, keyboard, and mouse retract into the desktop, storing neatly away when not in use.
  
  
• The Fanshawe Alumni Office has been moved from E-Building to K-Building, which allows the Digital Media Centre to be co-located in the Marketing & Communications office.
  
  
• Significant renovations are underway on the third floor of D-Building, where we are completing much needed expansion and upgrades to the Faculty of Health Sciences, Human Services and Nursing offices.
  
  
• TELUS cell phone users (including TELUS BlackBerry users) should notice improved reception around campus this year thanks to recent TELUS cellular infrastructure upgrades.

As always, we want to thank students, employees, and visitors for their patience as we complete these building and renovation projects. Any inconvenience will be well worth it when the work is done!