The shiny, brand new building on the University of New Brunswick campus in Saint John is a stunning marvel of technology, environmental responsibility, and architectural genius. It makes perfect sense, then, that two REALTORS® led the team responsible for getting the project off the ground.
The Hans W. Klohn Commons, named for a prominent New Brunswick businessman, officially opened on September 7, 2011, after an appointed Cabinet of local Saint John dignitaries raised the funds for its $25 million price tag. This Cabinet was co-chaired by the husband-and-wife REALTOR® team of Don and Mary Ann Ketchum.
Mary Ann, who is a past president of the Saint John Real Estate Board, has a long history with the University of New Brunswick, so accepting an offer to head this committee just made sense, she said. “Years ago, I was the President of UNB Nursing Alumni, and I completed my Master’s degree here,” she explained. “All of my brothers and sisters and four of my children also went to UNB. We absolutely believe in the value the University brings to our community.”
Luckily for the Ketchums, the Hans W. Klohn Commons received a huge boost in its fundraising efforts with $20 million in financial contributions from all three levels of government. It was up to the Ketchums to lead the Cabinet in raising the remaining $5 million from members of the community, alumni, faculty, staff, corporations, and friends.
“In a community as tightly-knit as Saint John, it’s all about the relationships,” said Don Ketchum, a past president of the New Brunswick Real Estate Association. “Our team worked away at our contacts persistently, and we achieved great success.”
The Hans W. Klohn Commons is a gathering place for students, offering a student technology centre, tutoring centres, classroom, and conference rooms. It integrates IT, information services, a computing centre, and library under one roof. It’s also a silver-rated Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building.
“This remarkable building will support all of the students and professionals who share our campus, including the broader community,” said Mary Ann. “This will ultimately contribute to Greater Saint John’s aspirations for growth, and we were proud to be involved in its creation.”
