Seneca College received a huge boost for its expansion at the King Campus.
The college announced on Tuesday it received a $3-million donation from Magna International, which is Seneca's largest-ever philanthropic gift.
Magna's donation will help pay for the new 200,000 sq. ft. building, which will be named Magna Hall.
The building will feature 25 classrooms, labs, a student centre, gymnasium and fitness facilities.
"Magna is committed to helping organizations in the communities where our employees live and work," said Marc Neeb, Magna Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, who is also a Seneca alumnus. "We are pleased to be partnering with Seneca on this critical infrastructure expansion that will provide more postsecondary opportunities for students living in York Region."
The King Campus expansion is a $104-million project, which resulted from a unique collaboration among Seneca, the provincial government, the Seneca Student Federation and the Student Athletic Association.
"We are delighted that Magna International has chosen to support the students at our King Campus," said Seneca President David Agnew. "Time and again Magna has shown its dedication to strengthening communities across York Region."
The Ontario government has contributed $59 million to expansion. Deb Matthews, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development was on hand for the ground breaking.
“The new King Campus at Seneca College will provide students with a state-of-the-art facility where they can develop the skills required for the jobs of today and tomorrow," said Matthews.
The expansion will see the population increase from 3,500 to 5,000 full-time students.
Construction is scheduled to be completed by September 2018.
