The leadership of Dawson College is nearing the completion of a complex process to secure new rental space, customize it to meet the College's needs, and prepare for an eventual move.
The Ministry of Higher Education has allocated funds for a 20-year lease, including renovations to address Dawson College's significant space deficit. The lease must be signed by April 1, 2026, to move forward with this plan.
"The Ministry of Higher Education is supporting us in the pursuit of rental space," said Director General Diane Gauvin. "They are invested in this new process for Dawson."
Diane shared this update with the Dawson community during a Town Hall meeting on Nov. 12, where she highlighted the confidential nature of the ongoing process. She reported that, along with Academic Dean Leanne Bennett, Director of Facilities Management Samuel Vallery Saint-Hilaire, Director of Finance Glenys Ronnie, and a commercial real estate broker, a number of downtown properties are being considered. The focus is on locations between Atwater and McGill Metro Stations. The search began with 125 potential sites narrowed down to a select few suitable options.
Leasing a new building will resolve the largest space deficit in the CEGEP network, officially acknowledged by the Ministry of Higher Education for over a decade. Dawson College is seeking approximately 140,000 square feet of space. The primary consideration for the new site is proximity to the current campus. Other factors include the building's physical condition, the quality of learning environments, access to public transit, the mix of occupants in the building, and compliance with Ministry requirements.
Once the rental space is selected, focus will shift to extensive renovations to adapt the space and create an environment that fosters a strong sense of community for both students and employees.
The decision about which programs would relocate to a new satellite campus depends on the site's distance from the main campus. The furthest location under consideration would be a 12-minute commute.
A closer site would enable Dawson to house six medical studies programs and the Social Service Technology program together, as originally planned in the building project that was cancelled in 2022.
A further site would likely house the Science program and its four profiles. In this scenario, the other programs to move would be Science, Computer Science and Mathematics and Computer Science Technology. This option would serve about 1,500 students, creating a vibrant satellite campus. Services such as Academic Advising and Mental Health would be duplicated there, with some new employees hired to support students on-site.
Currently, property owners are responding to a process similar to a call for tenders. The College expects to provide a recommendation to the Ministry of Higher Education in January.
Following program relocations, funding will be available for renovations to the current campus to increase student space and classrooms. The Dawson community can expect an update on this development as soon as information becomes available.
