The University of Winnipeg has made the decision that Sparling Hall located in the centre of campus is at the end of its serviceable life and would like to explore possibilities for its replacement and the development of a new Student Success Centre in its place.
Sparling Hall’s place on campus will be transformed into a student centre incorporating all the academic and personal support necessary to help students succeed. Currently, student support services are scattered across the entire campus and multiple buildings, which can create barriers to accessing available services particularly for students from traditional and non-traditional backgrounds. Establishing an integrated Student Success Centre in the centre of campus with a direct connection to space for academic and collegial interaction will remove these barriers and provide a consolidated and accessible suite of services that includes program advisors, wellness and counselling, writing tutors, peer mentors, an Indigenous Student Centre, and support for international, immigrant and refugee students (newcomers).
The University embraces its role in fostering and supporting all students – and especially those from non-traditional backgrounds. Owing to its location in Winnipeg’s inner-city and amongst some of the poorest neighbourhoods in Canada, a large proportion of University of Winnipeg students come from First Nations, Metis, Inuit, first-generation, and newcomer populations, all of whom will benefit greatly from modernized interaction and collaboration spaces connected to critical academic and wrap-around supports.
All students deserve the same opportunities for success as those studying at other universities. A university degree not only opens the door to a brighter future, it also fuels Manitoba’s workforce and underpins its economic sustainability. Moreover, supporting success within a consolidated, safe, and engaging space in support of Student Success and Innovation is not only a priority for the University but also fully aligns with National and Provincial commitments to Reconciliation and social justice.
The proposed new Student Success Centre is suggested to be approximately 20,000 square feet over 4 or more storeys – however the program document as part of this Proposal would inform the physical elements of the development. The development will include the transformation of “Lot B” (approx. 7,000 square feet in area) directly north of Sparling Hall into a pedestrian and bicycle friendly courtyard that complements the greenspace between Centennial Hall and Graham Hall and links to Marsha Hanen Way. The anticipated construction budget of the project is approximately $15,000,000.00.
The redevelopment of the Sparling Hall site for a new Student Success Centre is intended to be a high-performance building targeting Net Zero or Net Zero Ready status. Due to Sparling Hall’s central location on campus, it has been considered an ideal location to house the central hub of a future district geothermal field planned for the campus and should be considered in the program document and schematic design of the new Student Success Centre. LEED Gold Certification may be pursued.
The new Student Success Centre should demonstrate the University’s values of accessibility, inclusion and reconciliation. The design should be considerate of the diversity of the campus and engage the campus and surrounding communities. The Student Success Centre should be a welcoming entrance into the centre of campus with ground floor access from both the south and and north.
The image of the new Student Success Centre should reflect the campus community it will serve. Incorporation of cultural elements and design concepts from the diverse University community is a project goal, and contributes to the University’s to commitment to Reconciliation.
