Nipissing University has opened a new outdoor classroom in North Bay, a four-season learning and gathering space built at a cost of $1 million and funded through a mix of government and alumni support.
The project was financed through contributions from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, the Nipissing University Alumni Advisory Board and the university itself. The provincial fund contributed $500,000 toward the build, while the alumni advisory board added $100,000. The structure was built entirely with Canadian wood.
Provincial and Alumni Investment
Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli said the Ontario government’s investment through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation will benefit students. He said the space provides experiential learning opportunities and a venue for Indigenous land-based learning across the seasons offered in Northern Ontario.
Laurel Muldoon, president of the alumni advisory board, said the board’s contribution reflects the impact campus spaces can have on students. She said the board is proud to support a project intended to create learning, connection and personal growth opportunities for future generations of Nipissing students.
The outdoor classroom was designed and constructed by two North Bay-based firms, Mitchell Jensen Architects and Venasse Building Group. The heavy timber structure includes 13 distinct column and beam arrangements and a steel oculus at the top that allows rain and snow into the space. It also features a propane fire table, with plans for a traditional outdoor fire pit to be added east of the entrance.
How the Space Will Operate
Kevin Wamsley, Nipissing University’s president and vice-chancellor, said the classroom will operate on a booking basis rather than hosting fully outdoor classes, since different programs will be competing for use of the space. He said any program could hypothetically bring a class to the location, but no course would be taught there entirely.
Mike DeGagne, the university’s former president and vice-chancellor, said the outdoor setting offers students an experience distinct from indoor facilities, framing it as a way to connect education with the natural environment.
The classroom is located near the Nipissing University Student Centre and can be reached from Monastery Road or via a pedestrian pathway beside the student centre patio.
Community Access Planned
The university said the space will soon be available for external bookings through its Campus Sales and Services team. Officials said they hope the classroom will also serve as a venue for community events, such as city council meetings or gatherings hosted by the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce.
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