Backgrounder: Engineering and computer science expansion supports students and climate solutions

Some of the features of the Engineering and Computer Science Building expansion will include:

• multidisciplinary instructional and research labs with highly specialized equipment and infrastructure, first-year design studios, computer labs and faculty and graduate student office space;
• a six-storey, 6,288 square-metre structure targeting LEED Gold V4 certification and built with mass timber construction;
• high-performance building envelopes to increase energy performance;
• electric heat pump HVAC systems operating on BC’s low-carbon electricity grid;
• green roofs, rain gardens and bioswales to slow and filter water; and
• photovoltaics canopy at roof patio for renewable energy.

Some of the features of the new High Bay Research and Structures Lab include:

• a 12-metre-high ceiling to accommodate research into full-scale prototypes, such as mass timber structures, steel trusses, reinforced concrete frames, modular composite building panels and precast concrete slabs;
• two 10-tonne gantry cranes on a shared set of rails that will run the length of the lab and will primarily be used for moving full-size structures, reaction frame components and testing machines;
• a 10-metre tall “strong wall” (reaction wall) and strong floor to test structural elements in civil engineering;
• provision for a large shake table for seismic research to test impact of vibration on various structures; and
• large-scale experiments related to geotechnical, materials and building science
• research, in addition to research focused on structural testing.

The new Engineering and Computer Science expansion will:

• advance developments in built environments that focus on climate and seismic resilience;
• provide the infrastructure to test, pilot and demonstrate new designs, products and processes across a wide range of building systems;
• cultivate international leaders in the emerging green economy; and
• act as a hub for the regional construction industry and as a major node in a network of building research and development centres across Canada.

The BC Government is directly investing $1.7 billion in planned capital expenses in the post-secondary sector to 2023-2024.

A 2018 budget announcement invested $42 million for 2,900 additional tech program seats by 2022-23 across the public post-secondary system.

• Review the UVic Engineering Computer Science expansion plans.
• See what Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) positions are in demand to 2029.

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