Sept-Îles, August 20, 2013 — Pierre Duchesne, minister of Higher education, Research, Science and Technology, accompanied by Lorraine Richard, member of the Quebec National Assembly for Duplessis and chair of the Committee on Culture and Education, André Martel, president and CEO of Aluminerie Alouette, Serge Lévesque, mayor of Sept-Îles, Donald Bherer, executive director of Cégep de Sept-Îles, and Martin Gauthier, rector of Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), launched the construction of the new Alouette university building at a groundbreaking ceremony held this morning in Sept-Îles.

The new university building will be part of the Cégep de Sept-Îles higher-education complex. Construction will get under way in the next few days, and the official opening of the building is scheduled for the fall of 2014.

The facility will cost an estimated $10 million, with the full amount being provided by Aluminerie Alouette. Construction of the building flows from an agreement signed in October 2011 by the Government of Quebec and Alouette, whereby the aluminum producer was granted a 500-megawatt block of energy required for Phase 3 of its expansion project.

Alouette president and CEO André Martel stressed that the project is the result of close cooperation between the various stakeholders.

The university services will be provided by UQAC, which has been present in Sept-Îles for over 40 years.

In the words of Pierre Duchesne: “I am pleased by the realization of this project, developed around regional hubs and aligned with community expectations. It will benefit students in the region and contribute to socioeconomic development in Sept-Îles. The new university building will favour access to higher education, particularly for first-generation students. It is a great example of profitable collaboration between local stakeholders, people from the private sector and representatives of institutions of higher learning.” The minister praised Aluminerie Alouette for its community commitment.

Minister Duchesne said that his department has set aside $1 million in its 2013-2023 university investment plan for the acquisition of equipment for the new building.

According to MNA Lorraine Richard, “This is excellent news for the Côte-Nord. In addition to meeting needs in terms of qualified manpower, the building will allow the population to attend university without leaving the region. This high-quality infrastructure will also draw students from outside the region, who may want to put down new roots. The entire regional community is delighted with the significant impact that this partnership will have on developing university education.”

Alouette building

The new 2,700-square-metre university building will be a major legacy for the community. Alouette, UQAC and Cégep de Sept-Îles want to be able to meet current and future demand for university education in the region, and the creation of a university services building will have a positive impact on regional development.

According to André Martel, “The Alouette university building will have a structuring effect for the Côte-Nord and ensure better access to education for the local population. We are very proud to invest in education in this way, and this is another confirmation of our commitment to upcoming generations and their skills development.”

Great demonstration of synergy

Present in Sept-Îles since 1971, UQAC has operated a university studies centre for the eastern Côte-Nord region since 1975. The centre moved to the Cégep de Sept-Îles premises in 2002, under an agreement with the latter institution.

More than just a tenant and landlord, UQAC and Cégep de Sept-Îles have become true partners in both teaching and research. Based on synergy between two levels of postsecondary education — university and CEGEP — their collaboration is a model for regional development of higher education.

UQAC rector Martin Gauthier said that today’s announcement consolidates the presence of higher education in the eastern Côte-Nord region. It confirms the availability of university programs in Sept-Îles and will enhance the choice of courses, and enables the eventual deployment of new research projects aligned with local needs. The rector feels that the region can only be pleased with this partnership between institutions of higher learning, Alouette and the Government of Quebec.

Donald Bherer, executive director of Cégep de Sept-Îles, added the following: “This project is an innovative model for developing regional higher education, and the resources that support it will certainly make a significant contribution to the government’s orientations regarding northern Quebec. Cégep de Sept-Îles is proud to see the end result of the sustained efforts that it has devoted, along with its partners, to promoting high-quality university services.”  

Spec Sheet - ALOUETTE UNIVERSITY BUILDING

The Alouette university building will be the flagship of regional university-level education and a hub of knowledge, and will be perfectly integrated into the Cégep de Sept-Îles higher-education complex. Construction will take a year, and the building should open in the fall of 2014. The facility will allow Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) to consolidate university teaching and research in the region for years to come, on the heels of over four decades of presence in Sept-Îles.

The building architecture will feature materials like wood and aluminum — both of them of great significance in the Côte-Nord region. The construction techniques and ultimate use of the building will incorporate sustainable development principles, in keeping with Aluminerie Alouette’s commitment in this area.

Building details:

• $10 million investment by Aluminerie Alouette;
• Floor area of about 2,700 square metres, spread over three levels (basement, ground floor and second floor);
• Room for close to 400 students (compared with just over 125 full-time-equivalent university students currently housed on the Cégep de Sept-Îles premises);
• Numerous classrooms, including one large enough for 72 students;
• Dedicated laboratories, versatile spaces, videoconference rooms, offices and a multi-use atrium expected to feature several works by local artists;
• A walkway allowing users to access the other buildings that make up the Cégep de Sept-Îles educational complex;
• Modern architecture created by BGLA;
• Engineering and construction by AXOR Experts-Conseils.