Document Tools

A $10-million Knowledge Infrastructure Program grant to Simon Fraser University’s Surrey campus announced today by the provincial and federal governments will add another 5,000 square meters of classrooms and science and research labs to the campus’s existing space.

SFU President Michael Stevenson and Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave Hayer unveiled the space. Construction of the new facilities will be completed by 2011.

Joanne Curry, executive director of SFU’s Surrey campus, says the grant is a vital next step in the campus's growth. "It will allow us to accelerate research and support undergraduate, graduate and continuing education students in the high demand programs at SFU Surrey,” says Curry.

She notes that with the support of such partners as the City of Surrey, the Surrey Board of Trade and the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association, SFU will look to maximize the investment’s short- and long-term economic development impacts.

The new space will be used for a variety of programs, including biology, chemistry, health sciences, mechatronics and criminology.

Research facilities at the Surrey campus will also be expanded with the creation of labs in areas such as visual analytics, mechatronics and cybercrime.

Its research base has grown with recent announcements of projects in visual analytics with Boeing Company and a Canada Research Chair in multidisciplinary and multimedia arts.

Future research expansion plans will target health and energy engineering.

Student entrepreneurs at SFU will also benefit from the expansion of the Venture Connection program, which assists students with the development of spin-off companies to market the products and services they create.

Students at the Surrey campus have excelled in international awards and competitions including student awards for a solar house project in the international solar decathlon and a student-designed game that made TIME magazine's top 10 electronic games list in 2008.

The Surrey campus was established in 2002 and moved into its current home – located in the Central City mixed-use retail, office, and university complex designed by Bing Thom & Associates – in 2006.

The campus offers more than 30 degree programs in eight areas: applied sciences; arts and social sciences; business administration; communication, art and technology; education; environment; health sciences; and science.

It also offers credit and non-credit continuing education courses and programs. More than 5,300 students attend classes. That number is expected to double over the next 10 years with further investment in facilities and student spaces.

-30-

Comments