St. Francis Xavier University - Campus Renewal

Campus Renewal

Since Dr. Riley was named president in 1996, St. Francis Xavier has undergone a $230 million campus renewal initiative. The goal of the program is to improve educational and residential opportunities throughout campus. To date, the initiative has seen the completion of eleven large scale projects.

• On May 29, 2012, the construction of two new residences was announced. The accommodations will house approximately 165 incremental students each, and will feature a mix of single and apartment style rooms, kitchens, lounges with big screen TVs, and other amenities. Apartment style rooms will have their own bathroom and will be similar to a hotel room. Each room will include a fridge, microwave and TV.

• The Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership was opened on May 11, 2011. Former US president Bill Clinton attended as keynote speaker. The $12 million facility is designed to broaden the leadership environment that already exists at St. Francis Xavier. Located in the heart of St. Francis Xavier's campus, the McKenna Centre will enhance leadership opportunities for students across all disciplines. It will support targeted initiatives in the fields of public policy, business, and health, including a leadership speakers series and a leaders in residence program. The Centre will be home to an executive leadership training program, educating top national and international talent.

• Construction of the Gerald Schwartz School of Business building began in June 2009, after an investment of $22.7 million from the federal and provincial governments. The grand opening was held on November 5, 2011, in presence of Gerry Schwartz, president of Onex Corporation, and Frank McKenna. It was named after the businessman in recognition of his donations to the university. The school hosts 15 streams of Bachelor of Business Administration studies as well as a Bachelor of Information Systems with a major or minor. The new facility, topped by a gilt dome, houses four floors of classrooms, an auditorium, lecture halls, faculty office space, seminar rooms, student service centre, lounges, research labs and meeting areas.

• In June 2008, construction of the new Coady International Centre began. The project includes the restoration of four historic campus buildings, some as dating as far back as 1890, in order to expand the current Coady International Institute at St. Francis Xavier University.

• A brand-new all-weather playing field and rubberized track, featuring an artificial turf, an eight lane, 400 meter track, and light towers. The $2.8 million project was completed in 130 days over the summer of 2009.

• Gilmora Hall in Mount St. Bernard College underwent a state of the art renovation in order to house the university's Music Department during the summer of 2008.

• An $11 million renovation of Bishops Hall, which includes Fraser, Burke and Plessis residences, was completed in September 2007. The building was upgraded with wireless internet access, new heating, plumbing, ventilation and electrical systems, elevators were installed, and most rooms became single occupancy, with a small number of them remaining as double occupancy.

• The construction of Governors Hall was completed in September 2006. It is an $18 million hotel-style residence which includes 226 rooms on four floors. It is aimed at upper-year students. From May to August, Governors Hall operates as a hotel.

• Complete renovation of MacIssac Hall, an existing residence, at a cost of $8 million. This project was also completed in September 2006.

• The St. Francis Xavier Physical Sciences Centre, a state-of-the-art $25 million sciences complex built in 2004.

• Charles V. Keating Millennium Centre, a $20 million athletics and conference centre built in 2001. The building houses two large ice surfaces and the main surface can be converted into a large open area mainly for concerts and Graduation. The building's area can hold over 2,207 people with room to spare.

• Complete renovation of Morrison Hall, the main dining facility at St. Francis Xavier.

• The construction of two apartment-style residences in 1998, Power Hall and Somers Hall, aimed at upper-year students.