Holland College waterfront campus ready to open

Studentshad the firstglimpse oftheir new classrooms in the renovated Holland College Waterfront Campus in Summerside Wednesday morning.

Renovations started on the 157,000 square-foot property, formerly the Waterfront Mall,last September. The construction includes 37,000 square feet of retail space.

The college purchased the property last June. TheWaterfront Mallwas valued at $4.4 million but the college got it for a bargain, paying only $1.5 million.

The new campus isset on 4.7 hectares in Summerside and should accommodate about 250 students.

"We're absolutely thrilled to move to the waterfront campus," said Justin Dunn, director of facilities management for Holland College.

"We're really looking to build on synergies of the true campus environment that we'll have here, and everyone being primarily under one roof or in close proximity with the marine training school as well."

Dunn said the campus is just about ready.

"We're just trying to do some loose ends here right now in preparation to make sure we lead with our best foot forward with the return of students tomorrow," he said.

Renovations to the former Waterfront Mall cost about $9 million with the province and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency each contributing $1 million.