$22-million Goodman School of Business expansion will benefit students and the community

Brock University Board of Trustees chair John Suk, left, Interim Dean of the Goodman School of Business Barry Wright, St. Catharines MPP Jim Bradley and Brock grad Jason Sparaga unveil what the new renovation and expasion of the Goodman School will look like Friday during a start of construction celebration.

Today, Ontario celebrated a major renovation and expansion milestone at Brock University’s Goodman School of Business that will help better connect students, entrepreneurs, researchers and local businesses.

The $22-million project will enhance student learning and add nearly 30,000 square feet of new space to the Goodman School.

“The Goodman School of Business, with its dramatically expanded facilities, will only become more of an example of Brock’s leadership as a Canadian centre of student-focused, experiential learning,” said Acting President Brian Hutchings during a celebration event Friday to mark the beginning of construction.

“This building will enhance the strategic position of Brock University in both academic and research excellence.”

The project to transform and modernize the school’s current home in Taro Hall was made possible by a major gift from the family of Ned Goodman, who is Brock’s Chancellor Emeritus, and a $10-million commitment from the Government of Ontario.

“The Ontario government’s buy-in was the clincher that allowed us to move forward with this game-changing initiative,” Hutchings said.

St. Catharines MPP Jim Bradley attended Friday’s celebration and applauded Brock’s vision for the project, praising the University for designing programs that respond to the needs of the regional economy.

“We want to make sure students are aligned with the needs of employers in the economy. Brock has been targeting the appropriate areas where there’s a need in our society,” Bradley said.

“With this substantial investment, the Ontario government is showing its commitment to post-secondary education by providing students with modern facilities that will enhance the academic experience and allow for greater communication with the business community.”

Barry Wright, Interim Dean of the Goodman School, said the state-of-the-art space will strengthen the partnerships between Brock and its surrounding communities, creating a scale and sophistication of innovation and business incubation space that is unprecedented in Niagara.

“One of the most dynamic spaces in the building will be the two-storey glass ‘engagement atrium’ at the west end of the complex,” he said, noting the area will be a collaborative space where Brock students, faculty and the community can come together.

“At Goodman we have an active and engaged body of students, and this inspired space will be a catalyst for unrestricted learning and a foundation for successful careers.”

Hutchings said the transformative gift and support of Ned Goodman made the project possible.

“So transformative was that gift to the future prospects of Brock students, that the University moved to rename the Faculty in honour of the Goodman family,” he said. “That Goodman donation got the wheels turning on a plan to create new and much-needed infrastructure for this successful, growing school.”

Goodman alumnus Jason Sparaga, Chair of the fundraising committee, said the expansion and renovation would not have been possible without the support of alumni, donors and friends of Brock.

“They — along with Ned — are providing a compelling example of what can happen through the power of giving,” he said. “It is important to support the Niagara community and beyond, through the research that takes place in Goodman and helps generate leaders for generations to come.”

Current students Leona Yiu and Nick Hollard praised the project and said it show’s Brock’s commitment to the the business school and its students.

“Our pride for the Goodman School continues to grow exponentially,” Yiu said.

Hollard said the expansion will provide more opportunities for learning and is an important investment in students.

The new Goodman School has been designed by +VG Architects, whose portfolio includes projects at Queen’s and Western universities, as well as the striking clubhouse at Legends on the Niagara Golf Club. The builder is Cooper Construction, a century-old Oakville-based firm known for innovative construction projects, including the first industrial building in Canada to achieve LEED certification.