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Carleton University Board Approves New Home for the Sprott School of Business

Architectural rendering of the exterior of the Nicol Building
Sprott’s future home – the Nicol Building.

The Carleton University Board of Governors has officially approved construction of a new $48-million home for the Sprott School of Business — the 100,000-square-foot Nicol Building, named in honour of Ottawa entrepreneur and Carleton alumnus, the late Wesley Nicol. This new building will provide innovative learning environments and collaborative community spaces at the heart of campus.

“This is a very exciting development for the entire university. It will expand Sprott’s world-class reputation and allow us to grow our community, industry and government partnerships to help us solve more real-world problems,” said Alastair Summerlee, Carleton interim president and vice-chancellor.

“This new building will take the Sprott School of Business to the next level so that we can keep up with rising enrolment and continue to attract outstanding students who will be the leaders of tomorrow,” said Chris Carruthers, chair of Board of Governors.

The Nicol family’s generous $10-million donation in 2014 kick started the funding for the new building, and Carleton has set aside funds to cover the remaining building costs. As part of its $300-million Collaborate Campaign, the university will launch a fundraising effort to further support the university’s strong entrepreneurial activities and Sprott student experience as well as enhance facilities.

“This new facility will provide an inspiring learning environment as well as collaborative spaces that reflect those things that make our community and the Sprott student experience unique. A dedicated building for the Sprott School of Business will not only provide the space to support our growth, but it will open doors to the Ottawa community and enhance opportunities for collaboration, engagement and new partnerships both within the university and across the region,” said Linda Schweitzer, Interim Dean of the Sprott School of Business.

The detailed sustainable design by Hariri Pontarini Architects in Toronto was completed last month. The building will be located on Campus Avenue next to the University Centre, the Architecture Building and the new Health Sciences Building. It is hoped that construction will start in 2018 with the building opening in 2020.

Key features of the new Nicol Building:

  • Enhanced learning, networking and collaborative spaces for students, faculty and staff;
  • Greater executive and management training offerings for business leaders;
  • Flexible classrooms;
  • Event and meeting spaces, including public assembly space;
  • Sustainable design from core to skin — the project is slated to achieve 4.5 Green Globes;
  • Space for the campus-wide venture accelerator for entrepreneurs;
  • Additional space for experiential student initiatives, such as the Sprott Student Investment Fund and Sprott Competes.