Health and Social Innovation Centre

A building like no other

October 2024

Please note: There will be rock breaking over the November Reading Week (Nov. 10 - 16).

Progress on the Health and Social Innovation Centre (HSIC) is well underway. Structural columns, beams and bracing are being erected, a process that will continue for another few months. There has been some installation of mass-timber on the structure of the building which will be used to formulate a warm, inviting atmosphere in the building. We are expected to receive the next shipment of mass-timber in October which will be erected to the south end of the building, where the atrium is located.

Underground infrastructure upgrades within the quad area will be ongoing for the next few months. While rock breaking is nearly complete, a small amount will continue over the next four to six weeks to facilitate a potential future expansion of a geothermal system for the campus.

Well-drilling is almost complete for the project. At this point, approximately 58 of the 60 wells are completed. These wells have been drilled to a depth of 500 feet, harnessing the geothermal energy to heat and cool the building. There might be from time to time a bit more rock breaking, however, it will have limited impact on fall classes.

Please note the tunnels leading through the new home of the HSIC remain closed. For safety purposes everyone is encouraged to avoid the construction zones and to use the pedestrian tunnel between Hazen Hall and Oland Hall in lieu of exiting onto the quad.

See what's coming







1968 Time Capsule

While we were preparing for our new Health and Social Innovation Centre we discovered a time capsule in the building that once stood on our site.