Hardy Lab renovations in the spotlight on USask Giving Day
A major project to renovate the Hardy Lab to create the Engineering Design Hub is the only capital project featured during USask's one-day fundraising blitz.
The College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) was thrilled to learn that its planned renovation of the Hardy Lab is being highlighted on USask Giving Day on Sept. 12.
Giving Day is a one-day fundraising blitz to raise money for initiatives across USask, which is in the midst of the Be What the World Needs campaign.
The Hardy Lab renovation is the only building project that will be highlighted that day. It will be supported by a matching gift from the Engineering Advancement Trust. Thank you to the EAT!
Here’s what you need to know about the project and Giving Day.
About the project
What renos are planned for the Hardy Lab?
Today the Hardy Lab is home to labs, student groups, extracurriculars, research, and events. But it functions at a fraction of its potential.
The Engineering Design Hub will be a space where hands-on work will happen, where learning, teamwork and mentorship will happen, to prepare students for their engineering careers.
Versatile bay spaces to house student design teams
Makerspace for all students
Engineering entrepreneurship centre
Capstone design build space
Collision space for social and cultural design
VIRTCL Lab, a virtual reality learning lab
Bookable meeting rooms for student use
Improved event space
Soldering lab
Fabrication lab
What is the Engineering Advancement Trust (EAT) Matching Gift?
The board trustees of the Engineering Advancement Trust have personally donated $25,000 to match donations made on Giving Day. Of course, we want to go over and above that total. We already have major donations to support the Engineering Design Hub but that’s just a start. We want to keep our momentum going!
What stage is the Hardy Lab/Engineering Design Hub project at?
Architects will begin working on plans this year. A committee of faculty, staff and students in the college will work over the fall term to define the features the Engineering Design Hub should have – like equipment, student group design bays and more.
Who can help out?
Everyone! If you’re a student, faculty or staff member, or an alumnus, and you want to get behind this project (because who doesn’t want to see some renos in the Engineering Building?) you can make a donation. It doesn’t matter if it’s $5 or $500 – we can all be part of this!
Why we need the Engineering Design Hub
It's a better use of our space
“Space in the Hardy Lab could be utilized much more effectively given changes in what we teach, and the increasing importance we put on student design teams and collaborative work. It would be great to find a better balance between the benefits this kind of space affords with our current needs and priorities.”
-Scott Noble, Department Head, Mechanical Engineering
It'll be a spot for labs
If we had a centralized space where we could have the lab equipment more available to first-year students, they’d be able to experiment with it outside of class times. We designed the lab sets that we have so they could experiment and learn concepts on their own time. It's difficult right now because they're just not available unless it's a lab time because we have to set it up and take it down every day.
-Reisha Peters, Co-ordinator, first-year labs
A larger home for student design groups
“It’s important that we have physical space where we can work. We have two projects on the go and ther’s not enough room for everyone in our current room. When we spread out, we’re in three different classrooms and it’s difficult to communicate.”
-Arliss Sidloski, President, University of Saskatchewan Space Team
Engineering is better when there's space to work together!
“There is something about seeing students working together and those random intersections that occur when we are all here. For students to want to work here it needs to be at least as good as their space at home. Space that encourages creativity, designing, building, and testing also helps to address any gaps in hands-on skills.”
-Scott Noble, Department Head, Mechanical Engineering