New research, innovation and engineering building announced at Laurentian University

The federal and provincial governments have invested $27.4 million into a new research, innovation and engineering building at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ont.

$21.1 million of the $27.4 million in funding will come from the federal government, while the provincial government is covering the remaining $6.3 million. Five million of the provincial portion will come from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.

The planned 47,000 square-foot facility will bring "much needed" space for research and innovation in the northeast, according to chair of the school's board of governors, Jennifer Witty.

Friday's announcement was made at the university by Sudbury MP Paul Lefebve, Nickel belt MP Marc Serré, Ontario Deputy Premier Deb Matthews, as well as Energy Minister and Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault.

The new facility will feature a number of components including support for emerging start-ups to get their products to market, in partnership with the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT), lab facilities for students in civil, chemical, mechanical and mining engineering, a mineral analysis lab and a machine shop for the development of prototypes.

"It's not just dedicated to engineering," University President Dominic Giroux said.

"The lab space for the Bharti School of Engineering of course is dedicated to that discipline, but all the research and innovation space will be accessible for the seven faculties of the university," Giroux added.

Having these types of facilities for future generations of students will only help them, said Stephane Labine, a fourth year mechanical engineering student at Laurentian.  Labine is slated to graduate this year and won't be around to see or use the finished space.

"For the students that come after me, it's going to be great for them," he said. "They're going to have all these state-of-the-art labs, this equipment, all this great stuff. I'm really excited for them and it's going to be great for them."

Labine added that the school's partnership with NORCAT will benefit the students by fostering connections in the industry.

Friday's announcement is part of a larger $60.7 million capital program at the school, slated to be complete by March, 2018. School officials said it includes investments by the university towards a new cardiovascular and metabolic research lab and a new Indigenous sharing and learning centre.

Earlier this month, Laurentian University also received over $104 million in funding for mineral exploration research, in addition to another $10 million towards its department of earth sciences.

Construction on the new research, innovation and engineering building is expected to begin as soon as possible. It will be built between the Parker and Fraser buildings on the Sudbury campus.