Great Northern Way Campus
Encyclopedia
Great Northern Way Campus Ltd (GNWC) is a private limited company
and educational enterprise located in Vancouver
, British Columbia
, Canada
. It is the offspring of a consortium of four local academic institutions (the University of British Columbia
, Simon Fraser University
, Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design
and the British Columbia Institute of Technology
) that has attracted significant public and private funding. Its stated purpose is to become "a centre of convergence for arts and culture, digital media and the environment." At present, it manages a Masters Degree in Digital Media, which admitted its first students in the Fall of 2007.
donated 7.5 hectares (18.5 acre) of former industrial land in the False Creek
flats area of Vancouver to the four academic partner institutions. The presidents of each institution, along with municipal and regional government officials, as well as representatives of private industry, decided to develop this brownfield area into a collaborative, mixed-use campus and commercial environment.
For the first several years of its existence, the company (under the presidency of CEO Professor Dennis Pavlich) ran at a sizeable loss: almost CAD$1.4million in 2005, for instance. The extent of this unprofitability is now decreasing.
In January 2007, the consortium established a framework for academic programming, determining that all GNWC degrees are to be jointly credentialed by the four partner institutions, and will bear the seals and logos of each.
In March 2009, the company's president and board of directors were replaced. The new president is Matthew Carter, who "has an extensive background in real estate finance and development." The new board is predominantly made up of local businessmen. Its chair is Jamie Bruce, of investment banking firm Capital West Partners.
of Digital Media (MDM) program is GNWC's first academic program. This 20-month, full-time graduate degree program was launched in September 2007 with an initial cohort of 21 students. The curriculum includes a combination of supervised project coursework and internships, and students work in interdisciplinary groups with both faculty members and industry professionals.
The program is backed by a 2006 grant of CAD$40.5 million from the Province of British Columbia
and by a 2007 commitment of CAD$1 million from the US computer game firm Electronic Arts
. It also charges students $10,000 per semester ($15,000 for non-Canadians). Justifying this expense, the company's then CEO, Bruce Clayman, described it as "premium tuition for a premium program."
The program has won some media attention for using Second Life
as a recruiting tool.
The MDM program is housed in the Centre for Digital Media, a multimedia facility housed in a former office building. Parts of this building are also leased out.
At an earlier stage in the planning process, the MDM was to have been dubbed a "Masters in Digital Entertainment." It had also been expected that courses "combin[ing] policy research with community action" would be offered by Summer 2005, and that courses in "theatre, industrial design and the graphic arts" as well as a scenography class would be available. As of 2008, courses "in the areas of Sustainability and Arts + Culture" are still at the planning stage.
Academic research projects that rent space at GNWC include BCIT's Centre for the Advancement of Green Roof Technology and UBC’s Solar Canopy Project. BCIT also offers trades and apprenticeship programs and courses, as well as green roof technology courses, within the site's precincts.
In addition, New Media B.C., UBC Properties Trust, and the Justice Institute of British Columbia
all have offices in the GNWC grounds. There are also artistic production and rehearsal spaces for rent. As well eatArt, a charity that fosters new media art research with a focus on large-scale, kinetic and robotic sculpture, resides in a shop on the property.
GNWC has been host to several film productions and special events. These include LANcouver
, which will be held at the warehouse in the Centre for Digital Media in May 2011, and Mini Maker Faire Vancouver, which will be held at the same location in June 2011.
In 2010, the Emily Carr University of Art and Design announced it wanted to move its entire campus to the GNWC. In late 2011, the GNWC applied to amend their previously approved hotel use zoning at the West side of the campus land to be changed to allow student housing for the Emily Carr University of Art and Design.
This came months after the GNWC broke ground on their own New Centre for Digital Media on the East side of the land which will include 76 student housing units. It is expected to be opened in September 2012.
Private company limited by shares
A private company limited by shares, usually called a private limited company , is a type of company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, Scotland, that of certain Commonwealth countries and the Republic of Ireland...
and educational enterprise located in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is the offspring of a consortium of four local academic institutions (the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
, Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
, Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design
Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design
Emily Carr University of Art and Design is a public post-secondary University located on Granville Island in Vancouver, BC, Canada...
and the British Columbia Institute of Technology
British Columbia Institute of Technology
The British Columbia Institute of Technology , is a public, coeducational, academic institution of higher education in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. The polytechnic has five campuses located in the Metro Vancouver region, with the main campus in Burnaby...
) that has attracted significant public and private funding. Its stated purpose is to become "a centre of convergence for arts and culture, digital media and the environment." At present, it manages a Masters Degree in Digital Media, which admitted its first students in the Fall of 2007.
History
In 2000, the industrial distributor Finning InternationalFinning
Finning International Inc. , headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, is the world's largest distributor of Caterpillar products and support services.-Profile:Finning International is Caterpillar's largest dealer and global business partner...
donated 7.5 hectares (18.5 acre) of former industrial land in the False Creek
False Creek
False Creek is a short inlet in the heart of Vancouver. It separates downtown from the rest of the city. It was named by George Henry Richards during his Hydrographic survey of 1856-63. Science World is located at its eastern end and the Burrard Street Bridge crosses its western end. False Creek is...
flats area of Vancouver to the four academic partner institutions. The presidents of each institution, along with municipal and regional government officials, as well as representatives of private industry, decided to develop this brownfield area into a collaborative, mixed-use campus and commercial environment.
For the first several years of its existence, the company (under the presidency of CEO Professor Dennis Pavlich) ran at a sizeable loss: almost CAD$1.4million in 2005, for instance. The extent of this unprofitability is now decreasing.
In January 2007, the consortium established a framework for academic programming, determining that all GNWC degrees are to be jointly credentialed by the four partner institutions, and will bear the seals and logos of each.
In March 2009, the company's president and board of directors were replaced. The new president is Matthew Carter, who "has an extensive background in real estate finance and development." The new board is predominantly made up of local businessmen. Its chair is Jamie Bruce, of investment banking firm Capital West Partners.
Educational program
The MastersMaster's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
of Digital Media (MDM) program is GNWC's first academic program. This 20-month, full-time graduate degree program was launched in September 2007 with an initial cohort of 21 students. The curriculum includes a combination of supervised project coursework and internships, and students work in interdisciplinary groups with both faculty members and industry professionals.
The program is backed by a 2006 grant of CAD$40.5 million from the Province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and by a 2007 commitment of CAD$1 million from the US computer game firm Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
. It also charges students $10,000 per semester ($15,000 for non-Canadians). Justifying this expense, the company's then CEO, Bruce Clayman, described it as "premium tuition for a premium program."
The program has won some media attention for using Second Life
Second Life
Second Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
as a recruiting tool.
The MDM program is housed in the Centre for Digital Media, a multimedia facility housed in a former office building. Parts of this building are also leased out.
At an earlier stage in the planning process, the MDM was to have been dubbed a "Masters in Digital Entertainment." It had also been expected that courses "combin[ing] policy research with community action" would be offered by Summer 2005, and that courses in "theatre, industrial design and the graphic arts" as well as a scenography class would be available. As of 2008, courses "in the areas of Sustainability and Arts + Culture" are still at the planning stage.
Rental business
The GNWC complex is mixed-use, and the company leases much of its space both back to its four parent academic institutions and to commercial tenants.Academic research projects that rent space at GNWC include BCIT's Centre for the Advancement of Green Roof Technology and UBC’s Solar Canopy Project. BCIT also offers trades and apprenticeship programs and courses, as well as green roof technology courses, within the site's precincts.
In addition, New Media B.C., UBC Properties Trust, and the Justice Institute of British Columbia
Justice Institute of British Columbia
The Justice Institute of British Columbia is a public, post-secondary educational institution in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, that is focused on training professionals in the justice, public safety and social services fields...
all have offices in the GNWC grounds. There are also artistic production and rehearsal spaces for rent. As well eatArt, a charity that fosters new media art research with a focus on large-scale, kinetic and robotic sculpture, resides in a shop on the property.
GNWC has been host to several film productions and special events. These include LANcouver
LANcouver
LANcouver is a LAN party first hosted on the North Shore of Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was started in January 2004 and has hosted six successful events, with the last event in May 2006. The event attracted an average of approximately 50–120 attendees per event...
, which will be held at the warehouse in the Centre for Digital Media in May 2011, and Mini Maker Faire Vancouver, which will be held at the same location in June 2011.
Property development
GNWC has announced ambitious plans to redevelop its donated property. The land is to be divided into four zones: an academic core, which will be surrounded by four blocks devoted to business and commerce, plus a student housing component, and "green space and public amenity" at the other edge of the site.In 2010, the Emily Carr University of Art and Design announced it wanted to move its entire campus to the GNWC. In late 2011, the GNWC applied to amend their previously approved hotel use zoning at the West side of the campus land to be changed to allow student housing for the Emily Carr University of Art and Design.
This came months after the GNWC broke ground on their own New Centre for Digital Media on the East side of the land which will include 76 student housing units. It is expected to be opened in September 2012.