Ideas behind the design of Engineering 7
Back in early 2014, David Birnbaum found himself sitting in on meetings with some of the听蓝莓视频 Engineering鈥檚 most听influential leaders. On the table for discussion? The new听听building, an $88-million, 242,000-gross-square-foot, seven-storey structure and possible game-changer for more than 8,500 engineering undergraduates and graduates.
Birnbaum remembers one challenge the planning committee struggled with, figuring out how to convince future students to take the stairs to the upper-level lecture halls, rather than clogging up the elevator area and creating congestion.
Birnbaum, then the听听president and now a 4th听year civil Engineering undergrad, decided to speak up.
Why not design the stairwell like a spiral, so that each floor sits atop the one below it? The design would mean a faster and more practical way to get to class, he reasoned.听The committee agreed and the stairwell went on the blueprint.
That engineering and design element is just one example of how E7 was partially conceptualized by the very people who will someday be using it 鈥� the students themselves. More than 40 class representatives gave feedback, outlining how they would like to see the space used so they would feel supported in their academic, research and entrepreneurial pursuits. Input ranged from creating gender-neutral washrooms to making sure all desks contained USB ports and plugs to charge computers.
The Nov. 12, 2015 groundbreaking ceremony was likely a bittersweet moment for students like Birnbaum, who will graduate before the doors open in September 2018. Even so, he knows his input will make a difference long-term.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to be jealous of the students who will be in E7 using all that great space,鈥� he says, laughing. 鈥淭he whole building puts a focus on hands-on education. It will be quite awe-inspiring.鈥�
E7 will support growth in the recently launched biomedical engineering program and the popular mechatronics engineering program. It will also offer space for some of the finest research facilities in the world, including an听听and space for advanced robotic 鈥� testing autonomous and robotic vehicles. The first-floor听听will turn the world of science fiction into engineering fact, while seven new lecture halls will give programs the space needed to educate a growing number of Canada鈥檚 top engineers.
On the social side, Hannah Gautreau, current president of EngSoc and a third-year management engineering student, says she鈥檚 excited that the society will be able to offer students more services in a convenient location. A new C&D (short for coffee and doughnuts) caf茅 with plenty of seating allow students to meet, share ideas and unwind. No sprint across campus required.听鈥淚 know how far it is to get to the C&D between classes in you鈥檙e on that side of Ring Road,鈥� says Gautreau, who reveals that an expanded RidgidWare store will also open in E7. 鈥淲ith three buildings over there soon, we needed to expand to that section and make it feel more central.鈥�
Shari King, a computational mechanics Masters student, is also excited by the possibilities that E7 will provide graduate students 鈥� despite the fact that she鈥檒l have moved on by 2018. Testing facilities and graduate offices will give graduate students the tools they need to innovate, but the inclusive nature of the building will also create bridges between all students.
鈥淵ou鈥檒l have the benefit of upper years mingling with the lower years. Experience can transfer that way,鈥� she explains.
But perhaps E7鈥檚 greatest gift to students will be its ability to bridge real-life learning with theory, whether by offering modern facilities for capstone projects, a dedicated space where student entrepreneurs can pitch ideas to industry 鈥� or one to design, build and test projects in the revolutionary听.
鈥淭here are going to be a lot of areas where people can get their hands dirty,鈥� says King.
Learning by doing works. Just recently, a U.S. study revealed that students who physically experience academic concepts understand them more deeply and score better on tests. The Engineering Ideas Clinic along with expanded space for a machine shop, student workshop and electronic components shop will give students the tools and space to literally build their ideas.
Yet, Birnbaum says it鈥檚 the holistic nature of the entire building that will give 蓝莓视频鈥檚 future engineering students the real edge. A student could conceivably attend her very first university lecture in E7 and someday, with the help of entrepreneurial programs from the听Conrad Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology Centre,听which will move to E7, be prepared to launch their own business.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about staying ahead of the curve and educating the best engineering students in Canada. If I wanted to brainstorm a product or company, I鈥檇 go to E7,鈥� says Birnbaum. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be the place to make ideas.鈥�
