Conestoga College Transforms Former BlackBerry HQ into Ontario’s Largest, Cutting-Edge Skilled Trades Campus

Conestoga College has launched its new Skilled Trades campus in Cambridge, marking the most advanced and comprehensive trades facility in Ontario. Located at Reuter Drive, this state-of-the-art, 325,000-square-foot campus serves over 3,000 trade students.

The facility occupies a former BlackBerry building, which now hosts more than 150,000 square feet of trades shops and labs. These include dedicated spaces for plumbing, electrical, carpentry apprenticeship, machining, HVAC, millwright, and electrical/mechanical automation trades.

Designed to be bright and airy, the campus features large windows and wide halls that lead to various shops, labs, and event spaces. The interior acts as a living lab, with sections of walls and ceilings deliberately left open to expose the structure and utility runs for educational purposes.

Acquired in 2019, the college faced various challenges during the project, including pandemic-related disruptions, supply chain issues, and a strike by unionized carpenters and drywall trades. The total cost exceeds $110 million, covering the price of the 42-acre property, construction, and shop equipment expenses.

Looking ahead, the college plans to expand the campus by an additional 500,000 square feet over the next 20 years through four building additions at the Reuter Drive property, creating a very large dedicated trades campus.

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