Federal and provincial government investments are to fund two major capital projects at Queen’s University.

The university announced Tuesday morning that it received $31 million from the federal government’s Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) and almost $5 million from the Ontario government for the creation of an innovation and wellness centre and the revitalization of the biomedical research facilities.

The Innovation and Wellness Centre, located in the former Physical Education Centre, is to include expanded engineering facilities, learning spaces and state-of-the-art interdisciplinary laboratories.

The innovation and engineering facilities are to be housed along with the Student Wellness Services and the Chaplaincy. The wellness centre is to include athletic and recreation facilities, the International Centre, and a new exam centre.

Locating engineering and wellness services in the same space was a recommendation of the Principal’s Commission on Mental Health and is meant to strengthen the links between mental health, physical well-being and academic success.

The revitalization of campus biomedical research facilities is expected to enhance Queen’s and Canada’s leading research position.

“Today’s investment from the Strategic Investment Fund is evidence of the Government’s commitment to excellence in research, and understanding that we need to support our students, both in and out of the classroom,” says Mark Gerretsen, MP for Kingston and the Islands. “By investing in our educational facilities, universities and colleges across the country can foster the development of skilled and successful workers, who will help Canadian companies compete and grow in a global market.”

Construction on the Innovation and Wellness Centre began last month and is expected to be completed by spring 2018.

“Improving post-secondary facilities is part of our government’s plan to build Ontario up, grow our economy and create jobs, so I’m incredibly pleased that we are able to work cooperatively with Queen’s University and our Federal counterparts,” said Kingston and the Islands MPP Sophie Kiwala. “Through this investment, we foster excellence, build our capacity to train the highly-skilled workforce of tomorrow, and to create knowledge and insights that will fuel discovery.”

The total cost of the two projects is about $119 million.

In addition to the federal and provincial governments’ funding, Queen’s University is contributing almost $46 million and almost $37 million was raised in philanthropic donations by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, a campaign headed by Queen’s alumnus Michael Norris

“On behalf of Queen’s students, faculty and staff, we are incredibly grateful to the federal and provincial governments, as well as the countless generous donors who have made this investment in the future of Queen’s,” said Daniel Woolf, principal and vice-chancellor. “The projects their investments support will enhance innovation programming at Queen’s and strengthen the university’s position in world-leading research. We look forward to continued future partnership with the government in strengthening innovation, research and economic development in Kingston and Canada as a whole.”