McMaster University expansion plans make a mention of the Burlington Campus

By Pepper Parr

December 21^st, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

McMaster University released their University Campus Plan; it is their blueprint for the development of the Hamilton properties which collectively were an expression of McMaster’s vision. They imagined places and spaces that would be ideal for creating impact, fostering ambition and inspiring transformation through excellence, inclusion and community. They envisioned ways to help transform the campus into a living laboratory for advancing human and societal health and well-being. 

Early thinking on what can be added to the Burlington campus.

The Burlington campus vision was much more limited; the South Service Road location cuts the campus off from the city limiting the opportunities.

Development at McMaster’s Burlington campus should support the ongoing success of the DeGroote School of Business, providing complementary facilities and public realm improvements to enhance the experience of those teaching and learning at this location.

McMaster’s Burlington Campus is located adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) in the city of Burlington and is surrounded by a range of largely industrial and commercial premises. The Burlington Campus is home to the Ron Joyce Centre, part of the DeGroote School of Business, offering MBA and executive education programs. There is a small portion of developable land adjacent to the Ron Joyce Centre, which could complement existing facilities on the site.

Situated next to a major highway, the range of new uses that would be appropriate on the Burlington Campus must be carefully considered.

Due to its location, which is remote from the main campus, the site should only be considered for complementary Faculty of Business programming, interdisciplinary programming joined to the Faculty of Business, or for hotel / short-stay development along with related amenities like food & beverage, leisure and workspace. The university could also look at opportunities to work with the City of Burlington to review zoning laws, creating opportunities to diversify the potential uses at the Burlington Campus and consider complementary uses such as student accommodation.

The bottom part of the campus is where additional growth could take place.

Opportunities for new development at the Burlington Campus include the potential for a developer-led hotel and leisure scheme, which could serve students, faculty, staff, Indigenous communities and equity-deserving groups at the DeGroote School of Business, alongside the general public and other local businesses in the area, as well as business-led partnerships in mixed-use spaces, providing opportunities for students to work directly with emerging businesses in start-up and incubator spaces. This could complement existing business partnerships at MIP, providing opportunities for interdisciplinary work between the Faculties of Business, Science and Engineering.

Given its location, access to the Burlington Campus is mainly by private vehicle. A shuttle service provides a link to the university’s main campus.

In recognition of the remote nature of the Burlington Campus, consideration should be given to creating some outdoor amenity space between the existing DeGroote School of Business and any new development. Efforts to enhance and naturalize the stormwater creek to the rear of lot should also be considered to improve the natural quality of the area and create a positive feature on the site.

Not all that exciting.  With just a little more in the way of imagination the possibilities of integrating the  stormwater creek might be given some attention. The campus is where it is because someone made the land available.

Rendering of a possible building to the west of the Ron Joyce building