With demolition of the old Meadows building at Mount Saint Vincent University now complete, construction of the new Child Study Centre is set to ramp up soon. The new centre is estimated to be completed before the end of 2026. These are exciting developments for an initiative that will have profound impacts on early childhood education in our region and beyond.
In 2024, MSVU announced that the current Child Study Centre would be replaced with an expanded centre on campus. The project is supported by the Nova Scotia and federal governments, as well as donors.
The new Child Study Centre will expand access to high-quality care and serve as a provincial model of inclusion. The new centre will have triple the number of child care spaces it does now, including spaces for infants under 18 months (the current centre does not have infant spaces). These additional spaces will help address the acute shortage of quality, accessible child care spaces.
Robyn Corbett’s son attended the Child Study Centre when she returned to MSVU as a mature student. She later completed a practicum at the centre and is now an early childhood professional herself. “Educators are doing incredible work in an outdated environment,” she said, referring to the current space. “A new centre will align the physical space with the quality of care. Big windows to connect with nature, bathrooms in classrooms for potty learning, staff spaces for planning and reflection – these are all essential.”
Robyn’s hopes for the new centre are both practical and visionary: “The Child Study Centre has always been about well-being and belonging. This new space will allow that vision to grow even further.”
And the expansion of MSVU’s Child Study Centre will have transformative impacts far beyond its footprint on campus. The new centre will expand integration of teaching, research, and care to transform early childhood education broadly, including through informed policy and practice. The centre presents tremendous learning opportunities for students in MSVU’s Child & Youth Study degree programs, as well as early childhood educators.
Over the course of the past year, rising construction costs have significantly impacted large-scale infrastructure projects, including the new MSVU Child Study Centre, which is now projected to cost $18.1M, up from $10M.
Dr. Joël Dickinson, President and Vice-Chancellor of MSVU said, “We are grateful for the Nova Scotia government’s commitment to quality early childhood education and for their increased contribution to the project of an additional $5.5M, up from their original $5M – including Federal government support via the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. The university will raise an additional $2.6M (previously $5M).”
Joël noted that the NS departments of Advanced Education and Education and Early Childhood Development have been strong partners from the project’s outset.
Fundraising for the centre is also ramping up with a capital campaign in its early stages. “We are excited to partner with alumni and donors on this opportunity; there are ample unique naming areas, including state-of-the-art creative spaces and innovative outdoor play areas,” said Keely Wallace, Executive Director, Advancement, MSVU.
“And ultimately, this is so much more than a building. It’s a well-planned investment in stronger beginnings for children, which will deliver measurable long-term benefits in health, education, and employment while reducing future social costs. Donor investment will help bring this project to life and have profound impacts across generations.”
Fathom Studio is the design firm on the project, while Bird Construction has been hired as the construction manager.