The future of business education starts at McMaster
September 18, 2026 ·
Contributed by: DeGroote School of Business
On Tuesday, September 8, business education entered a new era.
The long-awaited McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery at the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University welcomed new and returning students who will be at the heart of an important vision for experiential education.
The McLean Centre is where DeGroote and McMaster students, faculty, alumni, staff, community and industry partners will come together to learn and solve complex challenges.
Established with a foundational gift from Paul, Carol, Lauren and Luke McLean, the McLean Centre aims to break silos between faculties.
“The vision is now a reality,” said Paul McLean. “We are so excited to see the significant impact the McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery is going to have by providing an environment that introduces experiential learning and student collaboration across multi faculties at McMaster.”
The McLean family’s connection to McMaster now spans three generations. With this gift, they wanted to make a lasting impact for generations to come.
“The McLean Centre represents a reimagining of business education. This dynamic learning environment is where DeGroote and McMaster students can develop the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world,” said Khaled Hassanein, Dean of the DeGroote School of Business.
“It is a true complement to the momentum of DeGroote’s legacy, and a bold step toward preparing students for what comes next.”
At the McLean Centre, students will work on experiential learning activities throughout their studies, allowing them to further develop and apply what they learn in class.
In the 1960s, McMaster University pioneered evidence-based, student-centred learning at its medical school. Now, the McLean Centre represents an evolution of this approach as the first business school building in Canada purpose-built for hands-on learning.
“The McLean Centre is going to change the way we educate our students — not only students in the business school, but from across our whole campus,” said Susan Tighe, President and Vice-Chancellor of McMaster University. “It exemplifies what learner-centred education looks like and will be a real beacon on our campus for students, faculty and staff to come together.”
The 10-storey building hosts several dedicated learning hubs where students can work on targeted problems alongside community partners, alumni and colleagues from across McMaster. Here, students can explore a range of themes including entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, sustainability, finance, social impact and leadership.
Along with the DeGroote School of Business, the new building also hosts McMaster’s Office of the Registrar, the Faculty of Health Sciences Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization (BDC) program and the Department of Surgery’s Innovation through Design, Evidence & Acceleration (IDEA) program, Media Production Services and the Innis Library.
The main floor BMO Connection Zone features Remember ∙ Honour ∙ Renew, an art installation crafted by acclaimed sculptor David General, an Indigenous artist of Oneida/Mohawk heritage and member of the Six Nations of the Grand River.
An auditorium, smart classrooms, event spaces and a planned café on the main floor further complement the facility.
The DeGroote School of Business is celebrating the grand opening of the McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery on Tuesday, October 6. For more information, or to register to attend this special event, please visit the McLean Centre event page.
About the DeGroote School of Business
The DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University is a leader in experiential business education and research, bringing together students, faculty and industry partners to tackle challenges facing today’s business leaders. As Canada’s leading experiential business school, DeGroote offers innovative undergraduate, graduate and executive programs that emphasize collaboration, analytics and leadership development. With campuses in Hamilton and Burlington, DeGroote is committed to creating meaningful impact through research, partnerships and a forward-thinking approach to business education.
