TRU breaks ground on new warehouse
KAMLOOPS – Provincial government and Thompson Rivers University representatives today broke ground where the new shipping/receiving warehouse is to be built on the TRU campus.
The 14,900 square-foot (1385 m2) warehouse, to be located behind the university’s Trades & Technology Centre, will be used to house and distribute the massive amount of distance learning materials required for the new university’s open learning component, formerly the BC Open University/Open College (BCOU/OC), which was acquired by TRU this year.
Local MLAs Claude Richmond and Kevin Krueger were on hand to announce $3.78 million in provincial funding and turn sod for the warehouse. Along with the added open learning operations, the institution requires more space with the increase of shipping and receiving, as well as the mail and delivery needs as it expands.
“TRU is a growing institution with added operations that need to accommodate new services that come with a larger campus,” said Advanced Education Minister Ida Chong. “The new warehouse will provide the space needed to help TRU meet its future needs.”
“TRU is a growing institution with added operations that need to accommodate new services that come with a larger campus,” said Advanced Education Minister Ida Chong. “The new warehouse will provide the space needed to help TRU meet its future needs.”
“A bigger and better warehouse is just one more symbol of how TRU is growing into its new status as a full-fledged university,” said Kamloops MLA Claude Richmond. “The new warehouse will improve the basic functions of the campus that are needed, and will support staff and students in an important way.”
“The old warehouse was developed for a campus between 3,000 and 4,000 full-time students plus staff,” said KAMLOOPS – North Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger. “The new warehouse will be able to support the enrolment equivalent of approximately 9,000 full-time students expected by 2010.”
Construction on the new warehouse is expected to be completed in the spring/summer of 2006, followed by the BC Centre for Open Learning, which is currently operating out of former BCOU/OC headquarters in Burnaby.
TRU President and Vice-Chancellor Roger Barnsley noted, “This occasion marks the first facility to be built on campus in support of open learning,” adding that he was “delighted with the initiative.”
“This sod-turning marks the next phase of TRU, providing facilities for the orderly relocation of BCOU/OC,” TRU Vice-President Finance, Cliff Neufeld added.
