Feds, province invest $90M in Surrey SFU energy tech building
'This once-in-a-generation investment is a historic leap to position Canada as a global centre for innovation'
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared in person Tuesday to announce a $45 million federal investment in a new energy systems engineering building at the Simon Fraser University Surrey campus.
The money will be matched by the province and topped up by SFU and private donors.
"This once-in-a-generation investment is a historic leap to position Canada as a global centre for innovation," said Trudeau.
Once completed, the new building will be home to the university's new degree programs in energy systems and environmental engineering, he said.
"The new building will also have specialized space and support for graduate students in the mechatronics program who are looking to commercialize their interdisciplinary engineering research," Trudeau added.
Students/staff <a href="https://twitter.com/sfusurrey">@sfusurrey</a> wait for glimpse of <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau">@JustinTrudeau</a> <a href="https://t.co/yKoO1iLA50">pic.twitter.com/yKoO1iLA50</a>
—@BellePuriAccording to the press release, mechatronics combines the disciplines of mechanical, electrical and software engineering with business entrepreneurship.
The money will go towards construction of a five-storey, 161,450-square-foot building to house the expansion of SFU's research in the energy, hydrogen, electricity and liquified natural gas sectors.
The new building was designed by the late Bing Thom and will be located at University Drive and 102 Avenue, across the street from the present campus.
The total budget for the project is $126 million.