McMaster receives $2.5-million donation from BMO for ‘connection zone’
https://www.thespec.com/business/202...tion-zone.html
McMaster University has received a $2.5-million donation from the Bank of Montreal to open a “connection zone” in the DeGroote School of Business.
The program is aimed at bringing “students from all areas and faculties on campus to an area dedicated to encouraging thoughtful knowledge exchange, work-integrated learning and enhancing collaboration across business sectors with leaders like BMO,” the university said in a press release on Monday.
The BMO Connection Zone, announced Monday morning, will be part of the McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery — a nine-story, $50-million addition to the DeGroote school. Construction is expected to begin in the spring, with the first cohort of students using the building by Sept. 2023.
“With this gift, BMO Financial Group supports the leading-edge rethinking of undergraduate business education at DeGroote — an undertaking that promises each of our students an education deepened by experience and broadened by exposure,” said Len Waverman, dean of the DeGroote school.
The connection zone will include an atrium designed for school-related events and competitions, as well as lounge space for students of the business school. The hope is that the new space, which will have a capacity of 500 people, will help foster networking opportunities between students, faculty and business leaders, BMO has said.
“BMO’s support underscores our commitment to advancing education and providing opportunities for students that will help them succeed,” said Sheri Griffiths, senior vice-president of BMO’s Greater Ontario banks.
“This new open and flexible space will allow students to integrate knowledge, skills and experiences across disciplines and foster collaboration.”