Built in 1992, it is named for John Wilson McConnell, a Canadian businessman and philanthropist whose foundation contributed to the building's erection.

It is the home of the R. Howard Webster Library, the Departments of Education, English, Études Français, History, and Mathematics & Statistics.

[2] Shortly after its completion, the C$65 million building was criticized as "one of ugliest, most offensive new structures to be erected in Montreal since post-modernist architecture came into its prime.

"[3] McGill University professor of architecture David Theodore wrote in 2000 that "Concordia's last major project was the 1992 J.W.

Meant to be the heart of the downtown campus, it has been severely criticized; for example, for the clumsy incorporation of the terra cotta facade of the Royal George Apartments on Bishop St."[4]