Learning Resource Commons (LRC)

In July 2011, the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities announced a contribution of $64.1 million towards a new Learning Resource Commons (LRC) building on the North Campus. The LRC is an academic support and student services facility that will enhance the learning experience at Humber by providing group and independent study space, an expanded library, a centralized hub for student services and a student gallery and showcase. The building will support campus growth by accommodating more than 2,200 new students.

The project also includes a major redesign of the North Campus transportation network (Early Works) to improve traffic flow, provide better access to public transit and increase the safety of staff and students. The LRC project is an important investment in Humber’s infrastructure and is being developed according to the Planning Principles outlined in the 2009 Campus Development Plan, which emphasize:

• Promoting a sense of place, arrival and welcome;
• Minimizing transportation and pedestrian conflicts;
• Providing easier access to front line services;
• Unifying the campus through physical landscape interventions at the north end.

Humber’s Project Steering Committee, made up of representatives from eight user committees, is providing input into the planning and development of the LRC building. As the project progresses, consultation meetings are being held with Humber stakeholders to share updates and gather feedback.

LRC – Artist’s rendering, including reconfigured parking

 LRC- Artist’s rendering of the Exemplar Design

The LRC project consists of three phases:

• Phase 1: Early works (May-August 2012)
• Phase 2: LRC building and transit loop construction (2013-2015)
• Phase 3: Retrofitting of vacated space (2015-2016)

Progress to Date

Phase 1: Early works.  Most of the work planned for this phase was completed for September 2012 startup, including:

• Moving gas, storm, and sanitary lines currently located under the LRC building site to prepare for construction of the new building;
• Reinforcing key roads to prepare for the new bus loop, which will be constructed as part of the LRC;
• Streamlining parking lot access to eliminate gridlock, improve traffic flow and enhance vehicle and pedestrian safety;
• Installing new LED lighting to reduce costs, improve public safety and minimize light pollution in surrounding neighbourhoods;
• Improving safety in parking areas by installing high-quality CCTV cameras to monitor exits, entrances and roadways. Emergency code blue phones were also installed, providing 24/7 access to a dispatch team with an emergency response time of three minutes. 
• Improving parking operations by providing more overflow parking, increasing shuttle bus service to distant parking lots, facilitating better use of existing parking spaces and introducing a new, half-day parking rate for students.
• Constructing a new Visitors Parking kiosk to provide an easily identifiable landmark on campus.

The Early Works phase also includes a retrofit of the North Campus central plant and utility substation to increase chilled water and electrical supply capacity for the LRC. This work will begin in November 2012 and is expected to be completed in the spring of 2013.

Phase 2: LRC building and transit loop construction. This phase is currently in the planning stage. Three prequalified project teams have been selected and invited to respond to an RFP, which was issued in June 2012. The project teams are now in the process of developing concept designs for the LRC, in consultation with the project architects and Humber’s Project Steering Committee.

Humber is committed to expanding and improving physical infrastructure to accommodate growth and new programming and to ensure a state-of-the-art learning and working environment for students, faculty and staff.  

Rani Dhaliwal
VP, Finance and Administrative Services

Webcam

Follow the construction of the Learning Resource Commons building through our live webcam