BCIT's Gateway Building
BCIT students, staff, and faculty had reason to celebrate as the renovated and expanded Gateway building was officially opened November 9 at the Burnaby campus.
Minister of State (Seniors) and MP for Richmond Alice Wong, Advanced Education Minister Naomi Yamamoto, and Burnaby North MLA Richard Lee joined BCIT executive, staff, and students to officially open BCIT’s newest facility at the Burnaby campus.
The Gateway building has a new wing along with three newly renovated wings. The new 5,280-square-metre wing of BCIT’s central quad houses 33 new multi-use, exam, and project rooms and additional study areas in the atrium. Student services have been moved into the new wing, which also serves as the campus welcoming centre for visitors and prospective students.
Ministers Naomi Yamamoto and Alice Wong open the Gateway building with the touch of a button while Vice President of Student Services and event MC Justin Kohlman looks on.
Renovations to the other three wings include renewed lab and classroom space and additional faculty offices. The project also included seismic upgrading, the installation of additional fire suppression sprinklers, upgrades to electrical service and to the campus IT network.
The provincial government contributed $22.75 million and the federal government contributed $16.3 million through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program. In addition, BCIT contributed $420,000, while BC Hydro contributed $248,000 to implement energy-reduction measures throughout the project.
“We are deeply appreciative of the contributions made by the federal and provincial governments, and by BC Hydro to the capital renewal of BCIT,” said BCIT Board of Governors Chair Michael McPhie. “This building is a wonderful new ‘front door’ for BCIT and will help enhance our continuing contribution to the prosperity of B.C.”
The new construction is targeted to be registered as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold project. Some of the environmental features include: use of enhanced daylight capture technology, energy-efficient heat pumps technology, geo-exchange system plus extensive heat recovery, energy-efficient lighting and equipment, use of recycled material, and use of a micro-electrical grid.
The Knowledge Infrastructure Program is a joint federal-provincial investment designed to renew infrastructure at post-secondary institutions across B.C. while also providing local jobs for communities. This is one of 39 projects at post-secondary institutions throughout the province with a total investment of approximately $520 million including contributions from institutions.
