BCIT has raised $33 million in private funding towards a new state-of-the-art Trades and Technology Complex.
More than 45 BC industry leaders and individuals across a range of sectors, including development, electrical, engineering, mining and forestry, have contributed funds towards the $220 million project through BCIT’s INSPIRE Campaign, the largest fundraising campaign in the Institute’s history.
“The BCIT curriculum is developed in close consultation with industry, and delivered by faculty with direct, hands-on experience in their fields,” said Dean of the BCIT School of Construction and the Environment Dr. Guido Wimmers. “The BCIT INSPIRE Campaign will allow us to continue to lead in providing applied learning opportunities. BCIT students learn through practical experience in unique environments that integrate real-world settings, equipment, and technology from the workplace. These include state-of-the-art classrooms, shops, labs, simulators, broadcast studios, green roofs, energy grids, forests, and waterways.”
The Trades and Technology Complex will increase access for students pursuing a trades and technology education and career, which will help the Province of BC meet the demand for an estimated 85,000 new trades jobs expected over the next 10 years.
The $220 million Trades and Technology Complex will provide an adaptive, innovative, and flexible learning environment through leading-edge, energy-efficient, sustainable design. The Complex will have capacity for 700 new full-time student spots annually, alleviating waitlists, and delivering the trades training needed to meet the labour needs of the province. The Complex will serve as a living lab where students from different disciplines–such as engineering, architecture and construction – interact, collaborate, and undertake projects together.
Key spaces within the Complex will include the Concert Properties Centre for Trades and Technology, the Robert Bosa Carpentry Pavilion, and the Marine and Mass Timber Workshop. Features for advancing education through the Trades and Technology Complex will include:
- Four covered work yards.
- Simulation-based learning areas.
- Cross-disciplinary sim labs for trades and technology collaboration.
- Power engineering sim lab–Kongsberg system.
- Welding simulation lab.
- Industrial network sim lab–industry partnership space.
- Media centre lab–for remote/ online/ narrowcasting education delivery.
- Classrooms, student commons, demonstration, observation, auxiliary and atrium spaces.
