Harriet Irving Library Research Commons at UNB to open Fall 2020
Author: UNB Newsroom
Posted on Sep 5, 2019
Category: UNB Fredericton
Construction of the Harriet Irving Library Research Commons has begun on the third floor of the Harriet Irving Library on the University of New Brunswick’s Fredericton campus. The development of the Research Commons, supported by the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation, will transform the entire third floor of the Harriet Irving Library into a modern, interdisciplinary, research-driven learning environment to further innovation, scholarship and research at UNB.
The Harriet Irving Library Research Commons will be a unique and inviting facility for students, faculty and staff featuring a visualization lab, a centre for entrepreneurship, digital scholarship studio, recording and presentation practice studios, a makerspace, and a dedicated graduate student area in addition to innovative teaching and learning spaces. UNB students will have access to tremendous research infrastructure in a collaborative environment. It will be the “go to” place to access specialized support for all levels of the research process including individual consultations, workshops, classes, guest speakers and visiting scholars.
A recent statement to incoming UNB students from Arthur Irving reads: “As we welcome you back to the University of New Brunswick and to the Harriet Irving Library this fall, we are proud to say that we are enhancing the third floor of the library with our gift of a new Research Commons, named in honour of my mother – Harriet Irving.”
“We are immensely grateful for the Irving family’s generosity and their extraordinary foresight in creating a centre for research that will be truly unique in Canada,” said Paul Mazerolle, President and Vice-Chancellor of UNB. “The Harriet Irving Research Commons will be an exceptional addition to UNB and will strengthen the University’s focus on innovation and entrepreneurship.”
"The Research Commons will realize the vision of UNB Libraries as the nexus to inspire and elevate innovation, research and entrepreneurship across all faculties at UNB,” explained Dean of Libraries, Lesley Balcom. “We are very pleased the Arthur L. Irving family is enabling us to realize this major project, which will benefit the entire university community and the province.”
The Harriet Irving Library Research Commons is set to open in the Fall of 2020.
Media contact: Hilary Creamer Robinson
Photo: Students walking in the sunshine outside of the Harriet Irving Library on the first day of fall semester 2019. Credit: Joy Cummings / Photo UNB