University of Waterloo: Campus Progression Through Imagery
Introduction
In 1958, the Waterloo College of Associate Faculties, not yet their own university, acquired approximately 200 acres of land on what is now the University of Waterloo's main campus. Over the next six decades, the university would go through massive development and grow to become a nationally and internationally acclaimed academic institution.
This StoryMap aims to show a progression of the university's main campus using orthoimagery, while providing a bit of history on the university's development.
Campus Progression through Images
1946
What is now the University of Waterloo's main campus, was once large plots of farm land.
It wouldn't be for another decade that the university would be established.
1963
In 1958, in order to make more space for the growing school, the Waterloo College Associate Faculties (now University of Waterloo) settled on what is now the main campus.
By 1963, a chemical engineering building, a physics building, the Modern Languages building (ML) and a couple of college residences were added.
1967
The 60s were a major decade for campus development. By the time this aerial image was taken, the university's campus as we know it today was already taking shape - how many buildings do you recognize?
Did you know: It was during this year that the first Mathematics Faculty in North America was established at the University of Waterloo.
1971
New buildings at this time include Engineering 4 (renamed as Carl Pollock Hall) and Chemistry 2.
Did you know: UWP used to be called the 'Married Students' Apartments'. It was originally built as residences for married students!
1975
In the year prior, the Optometry building opened their doors for the first time.
Due to low student enrolment, in 1972, the school announced a two-year freeze on building projects. The university would not get a new building until 1981.
1980
After a lengthy pause on building construction, that year, the university was able to put money towards renovations and a new building.
By the next year (1981), Environmental Studies II (now named Environment 2) was complete.
1985
Construction for the William G. Davis Computer Research Centre (DC) started in this year!
Before the Davis Centre was built, the site was a parking lot, as seen on the image on the right.
1990
A completed Davis Centre can be seen in this image.
Interestingly, in this year, students turned down the idea of expanding what was then known as Campus Centre and connecting the Physical Activities Complex (PAC) to create a "student life centre" in a vote.
It wouldn't be for another 30 years and several more student referendums that this idea would be realized.
1995
Although there were no new buildings in 1995, Campus Centre was renovated and officially renamed to "Student Life Centre" in this year.
2000
At this time, the Centre for Environment and Information Technology (EIT) and the Mackenzie King Village (MKV) Residence were only planned sites.
2006
By 2006, prominent new buildings include Mackenzie King Village (MKV), the Tatham Centre (TC) and the Centre for Environmental and Information Technology (EIT).
Did you know: Although not on this map, in this year, the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Campus opened in downtown Kitchener!
2014
Notable building additions to campus by this time include Environment 3 (EV3) and the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre (QNC).
2018
Do you see any differences between campus now and campus in 2018?
In this image, the CIF Field House is still under construction!
2021
Campus as we know it today is more or less the same as it was in 2021.
It was during this time in which the COVID-19 pandemic was impacting in-person instruction in schools around the world.
This isn't the end. The development of the university is ever-ongoing as the university continues to grow and change, just as it has been since 1958.
Campus Development Timeline
1950s
1958
Seagram Stadium is donated to formerly Waterloo College Associate Faculties, 210 acres of campus is acquired
1959
Chemical Engineering (later Douglas Wright Engineering Building (DWE), Physics (PHY)
1960s
1961
19 acres are added to campus, Engineering 2 (E2), Engineering 3 (E3)
1962
Modern Languages (ML), St Jerome's College Men's residence, Notre Dame Women's residence, Renison College residence
1963
St Paul's College residence (later United College)
1964
733 acres were added to campus, Chemistry and Biology Building (later Biology 1 - B1 and Earth Sciences & Chemistry - ESC), Conrad Grebel College residence, Renison College addition, St Eugene’s College (Part of St Jeromes)
1965
Arts Library (later Dana Porter Library - DP), Arts Lecture Hall (AL)
1966
Student Village (later Village 1 - V1), Isaiah Bowman Social Sciences building (later Environment 1 - EV1), Engineering additions
1967
Engineering Lecture Hall (later J.R. Coutts Engineering Lecture Hall - RCH), Maintenance, Stores and Commissary building (later Commissary - COM), Central Services building (later General Services Complex - GSC), South Campus Hall (SCH), Biology addition (Biology 2 - B2), Tutors Residence
1968
Mathematics and Computer building (MC), Campus Centre (now SLC), Health Services, Minota Hagey Residence (MHR), Physical Education Building (later Physical Activities Complex - PAC)
1969
Student Village II (later Ron Eydt Village - REV), Humanities Building (later Hagey Hall of the Humanities - HH), Faculty Club (later the University Club)
1970s
1970
Married Students Apartment Complex (later UWP), 3 story addition to Dana Porter Library
1971
Engineering 4 (later Carl Pollock Hall - CPH), Chemistry 2 (C2), General Services Complex addition (later Central Services Building - CSB)
1972
B.C. Matthews Hall (BMH), Psychology building (later Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology - PAS), Ira G. Needles Hall (NH)
1974
Optometry building
1980s
1981
Environmental Studies 2 (EV2), Grad House expansion
1983
Columbia Icefield (CIF)
1984
Federation Hall (FED), Phillip St Building (later East Campus Hall - ECH)
1988
William G. Davis Computer Research Centre (DC), Columbia Lake Village (CLV)*
1990s
1995
SLC addition
1996
Lyle S. Hallman Institute for Health Promotion (LHI)
2000s
2001
Mackenzie King Village residence (MKV)
2003
Tatham Centre (TC), SLC addition
2004
Centre for Environmental and Information Technology (EIT), Columbia Lake Village North (CLN), BMH addition
2009
Hagey Hall Accounting wing addition
2010s - 2021
2010
Engineering 5 (E5), Energy Research Centre (ERC)
2011
Engineering 6 (E6), Mathematics 3 (M3)
2012
Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre (QNC), Environment 3 (EV3)
2015
Science Teaching Complex (STC), Needles Hall addition
2016
Health Expansion Building (EXP), Hagey Hall (The Hub)
2017
Claudette Millar Hall (CMH)
2018
Engineering 7 (E7)
2019
CIF Field House
2021
SLC/PAC Expansion
(L): Campus in 1963 | (R): Campus in 2021
