NSCC Marconi campus readies for move to downtown Sydney

The province is moving ahead with plans to move the Marconi campus of the Nova Scotia Community College to downtown Sydney, from its current location on the Sydney-Glace Bay highway.

Speaking in Sydneyon Friday, Premier Stephen McNeilsaidthat a request for proposalhas been issued to studythe best way to carry out the relocation.

The three-phase study will examine future uses of the current campus, identify potential building sites, and determine estimated costs and construction options.

"A downtown campus will be an economic driver, bringing more energy to the downtown," the premier told a large crowd assembled at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion onSydney's waterfront.

"This study will determine how we can make this shift in the best way possible for students, faculty and the community."

NSCC'sMarconi current campus has about 1,100 full- and part-time students.

It offers 37 diploma courses insuch fields astourism, culinary skills, business administration, nursing andengineering technician, as well as traditional trades such as carpentry, electrical and plumbing.

NSCCpresidentDon Bureauxsaid he was looking forward to the opportunity to build a new campus "from the ground up," tailoring it to the needs of the community and its students. He said the new campus'sprogramming would also be crafted to meet "the economic and social needs" of the region.

"We can co-create something very specialquite frankly, something very magicalto make sure that our students learn in ways that help the community the most," Bureaux said.

The successful consultant is expected to begin work in February, starting with a 12-month mandate.