The Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE), Durham College’s (DC) newest building has been honoured before the doors officially open. DC is proud to have been presented with the prestigious 2018  Urban Design Award from the City of Oshawa at a special awards ceremony, held at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa on June 14.  

Scheduled to open in September, the CFCE is the college’s most ambitious and transformative initiative in the institution’s 51-year history. Montgomery Sisam Architects designed the building in a joint venture with Architecture Counsel Inc. The CFCE replaces DC’s aging Simcoe building, which was built as a temporary structure and opened in 1969. 

A combination of limestone, white architectural block, wood soffit, and a Muntz copper metal panel system create a dynamic expression that references the existing campus while maintaining an efficient, more modern enclosure. Inside, Montgomery Sisam and Architecture Counsel designed light-filled, flexible spaces to accommodate a wide variety of programs and student needs.

“We are proud to be creating a facility that will expand local programming, further connect Indigenous communities to post-secondary education and drive entrepreneurship and internationalization in our community,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “The CFCE will be an educational hub that is about building possibilities and helping students realize their full potential by offering experiential learning opportunities designed to match the needs of industry, reflecting Durham College’s dedication to meeting the demands of students, employers and our changing economy.” 

The accessible, four-storey, 75,000-square-foot-facility will house three new interprofessional simulation lab and an anatomy and physiology lab. There will be a full-service spa that will support the Massage Therapy, Cosmetic Techniques and Management, and Esthetician – Spa Management programs. The CFCE will also include new academic learning spaces with the addition of nine general purpose collaborative classrooms and a state-of-the-art Global Classroom which enables students to interact with other students and experts from around the world. There will also be 10 classrooms for the Centre for Success program which allows secondary students to participate in post-secondary courses and apprenticeship training to earn dual credits that count towards both their high school diploma and post-secondary credential. The First Peoples Indigenous Centre, Office of Student Diversity, Inclusion and Transitions and Research office’s FastStart operation will all be housed in the new building as well.

“The CFCE building is visually unique and will serve as a stunning gateway for the college,” said Lovisa. “The architects have cleverly included part the college’s history into the new building, by creating a beautiful entrance feature, which incorporates a living wall and reclaimed stone from the original Simcoe building.”

The Oshawa Urban Design Awards program was created in 2011 to recognize the significant contributions that architects, landscape architects, urban designers, planners, developers, builders and other individuals make to the appearance, livability, and quality of life in Oshawa.  In 2012 the college received an Award of Excellence for its Student Services building, which officially opened in March 2011.

In addition to receiving this award DC’s CFCE building is also eligible to participate in the 2018 National Urban Design Awards (Tier II) Program administered by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.