Queen’s constructing a new cutting-edge lecture hall

Queen’s constructing a new cutting-edge lecture hall

The Biosciences Complex will be home to large, modern, and accessible learning space.

June 3, 2020

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Digital rendering of new lecture hall in Biosciences Complex
Digital rendering of the new lecture hall in the Biosciences Complex. (N45 Architecture Inc.)

Queen’s is soon going to have a new, 300-seat lecture hall in the Biosciences Complex. The new space will be fully accessible for instructors and students, and it will feature the latest design in technology, seating, and aesthetics to support student learning and well-being. This lecture hall will be created by combining and renovating two existing rooms: Biosciences 1102 and 1103. Construction began in May 2020 and is scheduled to be completed in time for the start of the fall semester in 2021.

“Queen’s is aiming to revitalize its learning spaces to best meet the needs of its students and faculty. As this new lecture hall will eventually hold some of the largest classes on campus, it represents a significant step in our work to modernize the university’s educational environment. After careful study of our existing classroom inventory across campus, combining these two classrooms into one larger classroom was the best option,” says John Pierce, Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning).

Since 2016 there has been an investment of approximately one million dollars per year for the upgrade and renovation of centrally booked classrooms. This has allowed for a major renovation to MacArthur Auditorium and Kingston Hall 101, the addition of ten active learning classrooms, the upgrade in technology in seven of our large teaching spaces, and the renovation and reimagining of Student Street in Mackintosh-Corry Hall.

The new Biosciences auditorium will be the largest new classroom space since the lecture theatre in Chernoff Hall was completed in 2002. It will replace the Etherington Hall lecture theatre, which has nearly 300 seats. This project is part of the hospital revitalization and is made possible through collaboration with the Kingston Health Sciences Centre.

For more information about classroom renewal, contact Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning) John Pierce. For information about the construction schedule, contact the Associate Vice-Principal (Facilities) John Witjes.