The City of Woodstock has offered Fanshawe College a building in its downtown core to aid in the school's expansion. The building, extended to the college by Woodstock Mayor Pat Sobieski, is located at 449 Dundas St., just over two kilometers from the existing campus on Finkle Street.

Dr. Howard Rundle, President of Fanshawe College, addressed the matter in his spring staff meeting in May, indicating that the gesture was likely a result of two things: the proposal for the expansion of the current campus being turned down for funding, and the announcement of plans to expand the London campus into the downtown vicinity.

"The Mayor of Woodstock picked up the London Free Press," recalled Rundle at the staff meeting. "He heard what London was doing, and suddenly we get a call saying, 'How would you like a building in downtown Woodstock?' ... and I said, 'Are you sure?'"

The offer has been met with some controversy, as the building itself has undergone renovation totaling nearly $3.5 million from the federal and provincial governments to convert it into an art gallery. The city indicated that it will see dual use as a gallery and educational space for the college.

If approved, the building will provide some 24,000 square feet in which the college can expand. Although the deal is still in its infancy, full-time study could begin in the new space as early as this fall, depending on negotiations.

At present, dialogue between the Board of Directors at Fanshawe College and Woodstock City Council is far from concluded. The building, located downtown a mere block away from City Hall, would benefit greatly from the investment from Fanshawe College, enabling the completion of its restorations and use of its two uppermost floors.

Woodstock City Council supported the offer in light of the boost that such a cooperative effort could mean for the downtown core. Recent projections suggested that in such a dual role, the building could be responsible for attracting better than 80,000 visitors to the downtown core per year.

In 2010, Fanshawe College was denied a federal infrastructure grant for the expansion of the existing campus, located in the Woodstock District Community Complex. The need to expand arose from the diminishing of physical space at the campus, which has seen enrollment increase to approximately 300 fulltime and 3,300 part-time students.