At U of T Engineering, we are creatively addressing the challenges of our existing space, while actively working towards creating newer spaces, such as the forthcoming CEIE.
Projects Completed in 2014-2015
- Prototype TEAL Room — Sandford Fleming Building
- Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) rooms will be a centrepiece of the Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CEIE). They will feature movable chairs and group tables that allow for a variety of configurations and multiple screens that make sharing information easy from any angle.
- As a pilot for the planned TEAL rooms in the CEIE building, we installed a prototype room in Sandford Fleming 3201, in partnership with Academic and Campus Events. Through this prototype, we are testing different layouts and technologies and gathering feedback to determine the most effective design.
- Electrical Energy Systems Lab — Galbraith Building
- In the first phase of construction, we redesigned and replaced the high-voltage electrical infrastructure that supports the lab. These changes were made to improve safety and support new courses and research. The enhanced facilities enable studies into smart grids, micro-grids and other renewable energy strategies.
- The second phase of this project, which will replace the stations in the lab, is expected to be complete by September 2015.
- OCCAM Lab Renovation — D.L. Pratt Building
- Opened in July 2014, the Ontario Centre for Characterization of Advanced Materials (OCCAM) offers highly specialized tools to understand and manipulate matter at the atomic scale.
- Renovations converted existing research labs to support a suite of electron microscopes and included the installation of both active and passive electromagnetic shielding systems.
- Student Study Seating — Bahen Centre
- In 2014, we installed hallway study seating in the Bahen Centre, which can accommodate 87 students. This space gives Engineering students opportunities to study and do assignments between classes and is part of our commitment to improve the student experience.
- We are planning to install an additional 63 seats by August 2015.
- Other completed projects from 2014-2015 include:
- Renovations to washrooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Galbraith Building that provide additional capacity and improve the distribution of men’s and women’s facilities.
- An electronic access control system for the Wallberg Building/D.L. Pratt Building complex to improve security for students, faculty and staff.
Projects Underway
- Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CEIE)
- The Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CEIE) continues to be a major focus of our resource planning and reached significant milestones in 2015 with the ground-breaking on June 24 and the start of construction.
- This project has required considerable planning work to reach this exciting stage. Toronto-based Montgomery Sisam and Associates, in joint venture with Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (U.K.), designed the building. An audio-visual consultant was retained to provide the infrastructure requirements for the base building design and continues to work on the development of audio-visual equipment that will support the various building functions. Facilities & Services and other internal university groups reviewed the detailed design documents to ensure they met the goals of the project. A commissioning agent was hired to assist with the mechanical systems design for the building and ensure that this design was well coordinated and implemented.
- Other key work completed in 2015 included:
- the demolition of the existing structure on the site (February)
- approval of the rezoning proposal by the City of Toronto (May)
- the tendering (March) and awarding (June) of the construction contract
- Laboratory for the Translational Biology and Engineering Program (TBEP)
- In conjunction with the establishment of the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, we began construction in March 2015 on the laboratory for the Translational Biology and Engineering Program (TBEP) in leased space in the MaRS Centre Phase 2. TBEP, which will provide opportunities for 5 principal investigators and over 100 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows to collaborate across fields, is expected to be operational in October 2015.
- Nano for Energy Lab Renovation – Galbraith Building
- We are converting a former undergraduate teaching lab in GB 445 to a clean, high-tech research laboratory that will include four fume hoods, a wet bench and a dedicated HVAC system, all in support of leading-edge research in colloidal quantum dot photovoltaic cells, facilitating characterization of energy and biological materials with a large variety of techniques. Funding for this project was obtained through a successful submission to the CFI/ORF competition.
- Gas Turbine Combustion Research Lab Renovation – UTIAS Downsview
- A new research lab is being designed in tandem with an associated combustion blow-down tunnel, the main piece of equipment for the lab.This research facility will provide the means to advance combustion science and facilitate the development of technologies that can revolutionize the future design of gas turbines. The anticipated advancement of gas turbine technology will directly benefit aircraft propulsion systems as well as industrial energy production. This project is also the result of successful CFI/ORF competition.
- Other ongoing projects include:
- Renovating the Chemical Engineering Operations Lab in Wallberg Building 25/125. Plans are in the design stage.
- Relocating our Human Resources group to the Fields Institute, where staff will share space with the Engineering Career Centre and the coordinators of the Professional Experience Year. This move is scheduled for July 2015.
- Establishing The Entrepreneurship Hatchery 3D Printer Showcase at 256 McCaul St. by July 2015.
- Installing study seating for 20 students in the hallways of the Wallberg building by August 2015.
- Renovating Lassonde Mining Building room 71 to establish a student study space and conferencing centre, to be completed for September 2015.
Space Audits
U of T Engineering conducts regular audits to determine our infrastructure needs and the most efficient use of space. Over the past year, we undertook the following audits:
- Project planning report for the TBED at the MaRS Centre Phase 2 project (completed in August 2014)
- Undergraduate teaching labs space audit (final report expected by December 2015)
- Review of Civil Engineering space in the Lassonde Mining Building, with options to repurpose and rationalize space use (underway)