The empty college campus
in the time of COVID-19 in photos
As Ontario begins to open up, the Algonquin College campus, like many of the 43 other post-secondary institutions across the province, remains largely empty. Following the plan set out by the Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano back in June, some schools introduced limited face-to-face instruction in early July. For now, the college campus’s hallways, […]
Jorge Maria
Photos: Jorge Antunes
July 22, 2020 Revised: January 30, 2024 3:37pm
Photo: Jorge Antunes
The busiest parking lot on campus sits empty
As Ontario begins to open up, the Algonquin College campus, like many of the 43 other post-secondary institutions across the province, remains largely empty. Following the plan set out by the Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano back in June, some schools introduced limited face-to-face instruction in early July.
For now, the college campus’s hallways, usually teaming with students, are quiet, the parking lots, normally filled with hundreds of cars, almost vacant.
The campus waits until students can return after the pandemic is under control. The following photos are a small sampling of what the college is like right now:
An out-of-service passes the state-of-the-art Centre for Construction excellence which now sits largely empty Photo credit: Jorge AntunesThe busiest parking lot on campus sits empty Photo credit: Jorge AntunesThe empty student commons. Usually the busiest part of campus Photo credit: Jorge AntunesEmpty picnic table near a major thoroughfare on the Algonquin campus Photo credit: Jorge AntunesThe Early Learning Centre which is usually bustling with children sits empty Photo credit: Jorge AntunesThe Early Learning Centre which is usually bustling with children sits empty Photo credit: Jorge AntunesEmpty child-sized chairs in the Early Learning Centre Photo credit: Jorge AntunesUnused toys in the Early Learning Centre Photo credit: Jorge AntunesOne of the only entry points to the entire campus where students can pick up things left behind in lockers after the hasty school shutdown in MarchA sign posted on all exterior doors detailing new requirements under COVID-19 as the school slowly comes back to life Photo credit: Jorge AntunesA new security table and partition guards one of the only entrances to campus Photo credit: Jorge AntunesThe main entry to campus and access point for health services Photo credit: Jorge AntunesA hand-sanitization station in need of a refill Photo credit: Jorge AntunesA sign asking students to stand two feet apart stands in an empty corridor Photo credit: Jorge AntunesAn empty corridor leading into the once bustling C Building Photo credit: Jorge AntunesAn empty corridor leading into the vacant School of Media and Design Photo credit: Jorge AntunesNew digital signage promoting hand-sanitization due to COVID-19 Photo credit: Jorge AntunesThe now empty Journalism and Multimedia room, the primary learning space for Algonquin College’s journalism students Photo credit: Jorge AntunesAn old newspaper box with the last print edition of the Algonquin Times, published March 13, 2020, just before the the school was shut down Photo credit: Jorge Antunes
