SURREY, B.C. – Simon Fraser University (SFU) has opened its new state-of-the-art facility for sustainable energy engineering. The building will be available for students later this year.
“Investing in clean tech innovators here at SFU Surrey will help build a cleaner, brighter future for everyone in B.C.,” said Premier John Horgan in a statement. “The skills and experience students gain in this new building will help them succeed in B.C.’s growing clean tech sector and become leaders in the low-carbon economy of the future.”
The $126-million building is 20,458 square-metres and will be able to serve 440 new full-time equivalent student spaces and 40 faculty and staff for SFU’s new sustainable energy engineering degree programs. It also gives SFU the physical space to relocate its current 75 graduate mechatronics students to upgraded spaces.
“Students are the next generation of change-makers who are creating a better, more balanced and cleaner province,” said Melanie Mark, minister of advanced education, in a statement. “This isn’t just a building. It’s an innovation hub where energy engineering students will design solutions for smarter communities, cleaner energy and position B.C. as a global leader in clean tech. By building 21st-century facilities, our government is educating the best people to fuel our diverse economy. SFU is playing an important part in building the best B.C.”
The five-storey, LEED-gold-certified building, was designed by the late architect Bing Thom. Students will be able to take advantage of its wet and dry teaching labs, classrooms, study spaces, offices, a large light-filled central atrium space and a 400-seat lecture hall.
The project was jointly funded by the Government of Canada’s Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, the province, SFU and donors. SFU also provided the $10-million plot of land.
“Our investment in SFU Surrey is giving students, teachers and researchers access to the best facilities to advance some Canada’s leading research,” said Joyce Murray, president of the treasury board and federal minister of digital government, in a statement. “The new building will allow students and researchers to make discoveries that benefit Surrey and all of Canada.”
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