Peterborough MP Dean Del Mastro joined Trent University president Dr. Steven E. Franklin along with key faculty and staff members on a tour of the nearly-completed module D of the Health and Life Sciences Building on Tuesday, March 15, 2011.

The project, which is on time and on budget, will celebrate its official opening in the fall of 2011 with faculty and staff transitioning to the new facility as early as this spring..

The new home of Trent University’s Biology Department and terrestrial animal-care facilities for rodent and wildlife handling, the project was funded by the Knowledge Infrastructure Program with generous support from the Government of Canada of $10.9 million and the Province of Ontario of $9.9 million.

“Trent plays a vital role in our community and this project will help ensure that this role can continue,” said Mr. Del Mastro. “It’s good to see that this funding will provide the best facilities for Trent students,” he continued. “It has also resulted in jobs for engineers, architects, construction workers and many others right here in our community.”

Fully compliant with federal standards for animal-care facilities, the new “Block D” building is also being considered for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (L.E.E.D) designation. In addition to sustainable features including energy reclamation, use of grey water and low energy processing equipment, key features include:

• Increased capacity for new cage systems and state-of-the art cage washers
• 6 fully-serviced 36-seat teaching labs plus teaching support areas
• Microscopy lab, prep labs
• 12 fully-serviced research labs plus research utility space
• 21 new fume hoods
• New imaging suite

‘Module D’ is physically connected to ‘Module C’ – home of the Anthropology, Nursing and Psychology departments – as well as the original DNA Building (Modules A and B), home to Forensic Science, researchers from the Ministry of Natural Resources, ICAV and the Peterborough Innovation Cluster.

Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2011.