Media centre interior to cost $350,000

Posted on Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Written by Shirley Lin

Ryerson's new digital media centre across from Yonge-Dundas Square will come with a $350,000 price tag, excluding the $14,000 monthly lease.

After initial construction delays, work will begin this week, said Valerie Fox, director of innovative technology solutions in the academic provost's office.

The now-empty centre on 10 Dundas East is set to open at the end of November. It's one of many projects by President Sheldon Levy to expand Ryerson.

Last Friday, student media got a first glimpse of the 6,400 square foot workspace on the fifth floor of the building. The space will feature a whiteboard wall, a carpeted relaxation area with beanbag chairs, 72 workstations with grey tabletops and splashes of orange, blue and red on the chairs.

Ryerson Entrepreneur Institute (REI), a partner of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), will fund the workstudy program, hiring about 15 positions to run the space and advise students on projects, said Steven Gedeon, director of REI. SIFE's steering committee will be responsible for hiring and selecting pitches from students.

"It's to support students and get ideas off their ground," Fox said. "If you truly want it to happen, Ryerson is behind you 100 per cent."

"It's us trying to get people to dream and give it a chance to become reality," Levy said.