 Media Credit: Nate Vandeweerd The new courtyard behind the Arts Building, built at a cost of $300,000, was officially opened on Thursday. [Click to enlarge]
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Last Thursday marked the much-anticipated opening of the new courtyard behind the Arts Building, located west of the Ferrier Building entrance on Doctor Penfield Avenue.
The project began two years ago when the administration approached RJ Kelford, former Arts Undergraduate Society president and current Tribune columnist, about installing an accessible outdoor space behind the Ferrier building.
"If patience is a virtue, I'm really happy we were working with St. Mary MacKinnon," Kelford said, referring to the hard work of project leader and administrator Mary MacKinnon.
According to MacKinnon, there were problems right from the start. A debate with the City of Montreal over ownership of the wall along Doctor Penfield spurred a lengthy court case. Ultimately, it was determined that the city owned the wall. Permission was granted, however, to cut through the wall and link the courtyard to Doctor Penfield.
The new courtyard features a circular stone patio, large benches, the aforementioned staircase from Doctor Penfield, and ample greenery, along with security cameras and an emergency phone. MacKinnon said the aim of the courtyard is to provide a "safe, friendly, green space" for students and faculty alike.
Much was said about the safety of the area prior to the construction of the new courtyard.
"Doctor Penfield never felt safe. Hopefully this will make people feel better," current AUS President Nick Wolf said.
Matthew Goldberg of the McGill Alumni Association agreed.
"I always thought of this as the place where if I slipped at night and my cell phone fell it would be lost and gone forever," Goldberg said.
The AUS was one of the major financial contributors to the project, along with the McGill Alumni Association, the Arts Development Fund, and the Deffered Maintenance Fund. The Provost's Office also matched the Arts Undergraduate Improvement Fund's $80,000 investment. The total cost of the courtyard was $300,000. The AUIF is an opt-outable fee of $24.50 each semester.
"This day has been a long time coming. This space has been unused for at least 50 years," said Dean of Arts Christopher Manfredi. "We're pleased to be able to make this space available to the student community."
Due to the administration's support, former AUS vice-president finance Elizabeth Mirhady described the approval process as relatively easy.
"Rarely does the administration take such an active approach", Mirhady said.
According to Mirhady, the project was approved at a six-hour meeting that involved representation from student, faculty, and administrative bodies. Issues such as student access, possible functions, and financial viability were discussed and decided upon at the meeting.
"We weren't sure if this would ever happen," Kelford said. "Enjoy the courtyard. Let people know about it. Let's make this a vibrant space."
2008 Woodie Awards
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