Why: The Heartbeat of Campus Life

At the bustling heart of the CMU campus, you'll find Poettcker Hall. It's more than a place to live or eat; it's the centre of where learning and living interact. It's a hub of intellectual exchange, faith formation, friendship, and personal growth. Here, friendships blossom over late-night conversation and where roommates become lifelong confidantes. The aroma of communal dinners wafts from the dining hall, inviting students to share their stories over a shared table. Poettcker Hall isn't just bricks and mortar; it's the pulse of our learning community.

Living on campus at CMU offers students a unique blend of social and academic interactions. It gives students with an unparalleled opportunity for personal, relational, spiritual, and academic growth. It also fosters a deep sense of belonging that consistently demonstrates both higher academic outcomes and a deeper sense of well-being.

By investing in Poettcker Hall we continue to prioritize an accessible and affordable living environment for all our students, but in particular to international students and those who come from out of province. We are committed to creating a place that feels like home for all of our students.

This is why Poettcker Hall matters, it is more that just a dorm. It's a home, and for the 125 students who live in its walls, it's their home.

The Upgrades

Poettcker Hall was built in two phases, in 1958 (first dormitory wing) and 1968 (second dormitory wing and dining hall). Since that time, only limited improvements have been undertaken, including the addition of student lounge spaces, cosmetic enhancements (e.g., paint, flooring, etc.), and window replacements.

Major mechanical upgrades have become urgent due to reaching their end-of-life stage. The building’s liveability is currently very poor due to lack of adequate ventilation, frequent sewage backup, an inability to control room temperature, a limited number of electrical receptacles in rooms, and outdated washroom facilities. All of these factors negatively affect the student experience.

While the old cement structure is sound, all of the systems will be entirely replaced. This project will make living in Poettcker Hall an entirely new experience.

The scope of work includes major upgrades such as a geothermal heating and cooling system, ventilation, electrical and plumbing upgrades, gender-neutral and accessible washroom facilities, interior retrofits, roof replacements, fire alarm upgrades, wheelchair accessibility, and the addition of a shared kitchenette.

A Measured Improvement in Sustainability

This renovation project reflects CMU's commitment to environmental and ecological sustainability, a formalized university priority since 2017.

Incredibly, Poettcker Hall still uses the original gas boiler that was installed in 1958. This heating system emits 200 metric tonnes of CO₂ into the environment every year, the equivalent emissions of 44 gas powered cars for a year. The installation of an environmentally-friendly geothermal loop will both heat and cool the building, while slashing Poettcker Hall's greenhouse gas emissions to near zero. This upgrade will reduce CMU's campus-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 17%.

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