Most of the $660 million from the province for SuperBuild was for information and applied technology projects. Only 25 per cent was dedicated to new spaces in the arts and social sciences. Premier Mike Harris has said that the government is funding high-tech programs because that's what's in demand, despite recent remarks by prominent CEOs -- IBM, Xerox, Bell Canada -- that while funding IT was important, liberal studies was also part of being a well-rounded business professional.

With SuperBuild funding, York will be constructing buildings for both IT programs and a new generation of business students. The Schulich School of Business (SSB) and another structure for the York/Seneca partnership in technology enhanced learning (TEL) are being planned. The existing SSB building will be renovated for health studies and other undergraduate programs. All three buildings should be complete by 2003. As the second-largest university in the province, York's "fair share" of the student bulge is expected to be 8 to 9,000 bodies.

While appreciative of capital funds, York will still need operating dollars to maintain buildings and ensure quality academic programs, says President Lorna Marsden. "Recent announcements suggest we won't receive very much new money to cover operating costs. So we're asking the government for additional funding."

SuperBuild dollars will cover approximately 55 per cent of the $61.6 million cost for the new School of Business building and 68 per cent of the $76.8 million cost for the TEL building. The remainder of the funding will come from private sources and university financing.

The new York/Seneca building is a cooperative venture to meet the growing demand for technologically-mediated learning and joint university/college undergraduate programs.

York and Seneca plan to work collaboratively in developing a wide range of innovative, joint-degree programs in the fields of business, health studies, communications/multimedia, information technology/applied computing, and applied science and technology. Programs may include financial services, e-commerce, automotive marketing, gerontology, nursing, health technology, child health, environmental health, computer graphics, new media technologies, digital set design, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and land-use planning.

The building will house a Centre for Technology Enhanced Learning, with digital technology applications relevant to university and college education, secondary schools and the workplace. York offers expertise in teaching and research while Seneca will provide production capabilities, development specialists, and experience with high-tech educational resources.

Clockwise from left: Groundbreaking at the Computer Science Building site: Architect Adrian DiCastri; Michael Stevenson, former VP(Academic Affairs) and Provost; President Lorna R. Marsden; Robert Prince, Dean, Faculty of Pure and Applied Science; VP(University Advancement) Gary J. Smith; Michael Jenkin, Chair, Computer Science; BELOW Architect's model of York's new information and computer science building; and York's official development plan for the next 10 years.

"It's a building that needs less bricks and mortar because we're delivering one-third of the programs through technology," explained Stan Shapson, vice-president of research and innovation. According to Shapson virtual teaching might even be more efficient than the old-fashioned face-to-face kind. "Compared to what you can do in a lecture hall some things are probably better simulated. We're breaking down the old concepts of classroom walls."

The SSB is moving to new quarters because the original building, erected in 1972, needs redesign to accommodate current students. "When it was built, it was the best of its era," says Schulich Dean Deszö Horváth. "Now we need technology and pedagogy appropriate for the future."

York's leading philanthropist, Seymour Schulich, has donated $5 million toward the SSB's new home. The $61.2 million building ($30.5 million of which was funded by SuperBuild, and another $17.5 million will be raised privately) will be constructed near the main entrance to the University, located off Keele Street. Construction starts summer 2001 and should be completed by 2003.

Since 1968, when the business school welcomed its first students, enrolment has increased from 220 to almost 1,000 full-time undergraduates, and from 450 to 1,400 full- and part-time International MBA and MBA students, making the school the largest of its kind in Ontario, and its building among the most intensely used anywhere on campus. "The new building will be a house that never sleeps," says Horváth. "It will be occupied from morning till night, seven days a week, 365 days a year."

An International BBA program begins this September. The existing BBA program is "one of the most successful of all undergraduate programs in any Canadian university," Horváth points out. The school's executive-training program has been growing 25 to 30 per cent per year as well.

Classrooms made available through renovation of the existing Schulich building will be used for a wide variety of high-demand programs. ""The refurbished building is a crucial element in the University's plans for overall, increased classroom capacity," says Marsden.

Other buildings that were recently completed, or that are under construction and aren't part of the SuperBuild initiative, include the Honour Court and Information Centre and the new computer science building.

Sod was turned on the new $23.8-million computer science building this spring which is expected to be the most energy efficient green facility ever built in Canada, and will open in December 2001. The three-storey, 100,000 sq.-ft. building will capture radiant energy from the sun and earth (using air ducts located underground) and even use the heat generated by people, computers and office equipment to stay warm in winter. Summer cooling will use the same below-ground ducts as well as sun shades and -- an old-fashioned idea that's come around again -- actual open windows.

The building, which features high-tech lecture theatres, is expected to require much less energy for heating and cooling compared to comparable buildings. It has been selected as one of three projects to represent Canada in an international conference of 16 nations gathering together to discuss the latest technology in environmentally-friendly design.

York's other newest building (now complete) is the first building you pass on your way into campus from Keele St. It's a permanent building designed to welcome visitors to campus by providing an information centre, and will also have a pavilion that publicly recognizes donors. Board of Governors member Seymour Schulich contributed financially and came up with the original idea for the building which was funded by private donations. Major donors' names will be recognized by individual stones placed on the donor walls.