6.2 THE “WEATHERMAP” - CAMPUS STRATEGIES

The WeatherMap is a technique used to illustrate the changes in place and movement of people and supporting space on a campus through time. The following illustrations describe the movements over the next 10+ years.

Phasing and Priorities

The moves outlined in the WeatherMap are in no specific order. The prioritization of projects will be impacted by funding, vision and strategic initiatives of Northwestern Polytechnic, guided by the Steering Committee.

Key Projects and Initiatives

While there are plans for many renovations and moves within the next ten years at Northwestern Polytechnic, the following projects and initiatives are highlighted as they meet significant strategic goals and set the institution up for long term success.

Academic Programming Expansion: Health Education

Health Education programming is located in the Health Education Centre at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital in long-term 30 to 50 year leased space and in new health lab space in Fairview. These spaces provide opportunity for academic programming expansion aligned to market need. Increasing program offerings will improve utilization of existing space and expand the network of health professionals starting their careers at NWP.

Consolidation of Academic Space: Trades and Fine Arts

Bringing academic spaces together, including specialties like Trades and the Fine Arts, improves student experience in diverse student populations, reducing silos and improving overall community. At Grande Prairie campus, most of the Trades and Fine Arts labs, shops and studios are in stand-alone buildings, removed from the energy and life of the Douglas Cardinal building. Consolidating Trades into the L and M wings allows for opportunities for Trades collaboration as well as provides a new home for the Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence and Continuing Education.

At Fairview campus, academic programming is located in multiple small academic buildings. While there are some programs that can be colocated, consolidating all trades programming is not recommended. Providing a connection point between multiple buildings with an atrium or covered annex will provide connection and student space on the east side of campus.

Visibility: Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence and Continuing Education

Creating a focal point for entrepreneurial excellence that can be seen from the edges of campus would be a beacon to the exciting connections being made with industry and community. As the Centre develops, the space needs and location will be finalized. While the Centre may be located within the Cardinal building to start, there is potential and opportunity in sharing space with Continuing Education in the current Trades building. This location provides visibility from two streets in Grande Prairie and benefits from adjacent parking and wayfinding opportunities.

In Fairview, providing flexible shared teaching and gathering spaces allows the activities of the CEE and continuing education to occur.

Visibility and Community Connections

Adding a joint-use school to the south side of Fairview campus increases NWP’s connections to the community, exposing younger students to the campus and polytechnic education. Potential physical space connections include the use of the gymnasium and library as well as the development of athletics fields. The new school will increase the utilization of existing infrastructure.

Choice: Student Housing

The student housing stock on Grande Prairie campus is in relatively good condition, but only provides one residential experience for students. With an anticipated increase in international students and with a desire to provide family housing options, other housing models should be explored. While not all international students are looking for on-campus housing models, improving housing options may attract more student types to campus. Adding another building type, such as a mid-rise building with individual rooms and/or family townhomes would provide additional options for students.

Pairing this tower with a lower podium of food services, student services and activities would provide a whole-student experience to students living on and off campus.

The housing options at Fairview are more diverse, but are older and in varying degrees of repair. Some selective renovations and demolition will improve the overall maintenance requirements for student housing.

Visibility and Access: Student Services and Support

Consolidating student services to a high visibility location sends two messages to students: that health and wellness are important and that supports are available and accessible. Colocating and centralizing the locations of student supports and services in comfortable, easy to access space increases equity and inclusion and promotes student success.

In an environment where every student is supported and celebrated as they are, locating student services in central locations eases access and reduces stigma. Creating clusters of community support all aspects of the person, beyond academics. Academic supports such as tutoring, testing, Accessibility Services, and Academic Success Centre are already colocated within the Learning Commons and provide a template for co-location for other units. Welcome supports including a Welcome Centre, the Registrar, Recruitment, International and Indigenous services are units that can be brought together to welcome and support potential and existing students.

For Fairview students, providing drop-in space allows for flexibility and sharing, while also providing visibility and awareness of the supports and services available to them.

Flexibility: Growth and Expansion

Northwestern Polytechnic is exploring several initiatives. These projects will develop at different speeds and intensities, requiring different levels of spatial solutions. Similar to the future expansion and development zones within the campus, several locations are identified that can be used for future growth plans as needed. While these locations will likely not be the permanent location for these growth initiatives, they provide interim space for incubation and exploration.

Through the Master Plan process, potential areas of growth or change include:

• Student Services, including the Registrar, Welcome, Financial Aid

• Sessionals and flexible academic office space

• Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence

• Daycare expansion

While these initiatives are known, it is foreseeable that other priorities will develop in the future.

Potential locations for flexible expansion might include:

• A203 and A204

• A303 and 304

• B302 and 303

• H103 suite

• The former nursing offices and classrooms

These spaces are mentioned as potential solutions, not as confirmed changes. Defining the space requirements for new initiatives, including function and adjacencies, helps to determine the best fit. As these spaces evolve, future flexibility should be a key consideration.

Relocate Continuing Education within Trades building. Fit CEE within the Cardinal building with a potential future move to the Trades building

Move arts into Cardinal building, demolish arts studios and carpentry building