NANAIMO – Vancouver Island University (VIU) has announced a new $39.9-million Health and Science Centre, thanks largely to a $35.9-million federal-provincial investment.
This brings the total provincial and federal funding for new infrastructure at VIU announced since December 2016 to $62.3 million. The total investment figure also includes funding from VIU and community partners of the university.
The 6,855 square-metre Health and Science Centre will allow VIU to co-locate the majority of its health and chemistry programs into one facility. The centre will also include new teaching labs for nursing and other health programs and the Applied Environmental Research Laboratory, which conducts applied research in the environmental sciences.
Investments in the $39.9-million project include:
- $19.4 million from the Government of Canada;
- $16.5 million from the Province of BC; and
- VIU and its community partners are providing $4 million.
This investment in VIU will improve student recruitment and retention for high-priority health occupations, such as nursing.
The announcement of $39.9 million for Health and Science Centre is in addition to:
- The Marine, Automotive and Trades Complex expansion. The total cost of the expansion is $20 million, with $9.5 million each from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia and $1 million from VIU.
- A District Geo-Exchange Energy System project. The total cost of the energy system project is $2.4 million with $1.1 million from the Government of Canada and $1.3 million from VIU.
