Seneca College receives $3M donation from Magna for King campus expansion

YorkRegion.com
Oct. 11, 2016
By Simon Martin

Seneca College’s King Campus expansion got a major financial boost Oct. 11 when it was announced that Magna International was donating $3 million to the expansion.

The donation is the largest ever in Seneca’s history.

The expansion is a $104 million project that will see a new 200,000 sq. ft. building which be named Magna Hall. It will feature 25 classrooms, labs, a student centre, gymnasium and fitness facilities. The expansion will allow for 1,500 more students to attend every year.

“Magna is committed to helping organizations in the communities where our employees live and work,” said Magna executive vice president and chief human resources officer Marc Neeb. “We are pleased to be partnering with Seneca on this critical infrastructure expansion that will provide more post-secondary opportunities for students living in York Region.”

Many politicians were on hand for the announcement including, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development Deb Matthews, Markham-Oak Ridges MPP Helena Jaczek, King-Vaughan MP Deb Schulte and King Mayor Steve Pellegrini.

“We are delighted that Magna International has chosen to support the students at our King Campus,” said Seneca president David Agnew. “Time and again Magna has shown its dedication to strengthening communities across York Region."

The province contributed $59 million to help build the new facility, Matthews said. It is part of its infrastructure program that will invest $160 billion over 12 years across the province. Agnew told the assembled crowd that a project of this magnitude wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the provincial government.

The new building, which is set to open in 2018, will feature cutting-edge environmental sustainability. It will use reclaimed water in the new facilities to reduce the impact on the local environment. The new building will also be certified LEED Gold.

Construction on the project started last month. Seneca’s King Campus was formerly the Eaton estate. It bought the property in 1971. Agnew thanked the many students who have supported the expansion even though most of them wouldn’t be around to experience the benefits.

Seneca is in the midst of $20 million fundraising campaign for the expansion.