New Engineering Building

Construction & Progress Gallery

Project Summary

The New Engineering Building (NEB) is poised to be a landmark building for the Western campus. NEB will house the rapidly expanding engineering faculty that is expecting an additional 880 undergraduate students, 100 graduate students, 24 faculty, and 5 staff.

The proposed growth, while driven by a new degree program, will combine education in artificial intelligence with most of the existing undergraduate programs offered by the Faculty. Half of the new incremental faculty positions will be in the area of greatest need, software engineering, and will provide an opportunity to target additional positions to areas of most impactful research opportunity.

Design & Development

Currently in the In Construction phase

Process Highlights

• With a certified third-party arborist's report, trees removed during the project will be replaced per City policy.

Media

• UES referendum paves the way for student space in new Engineering building (Western Engineering, Mar 2023)

Strategic Objectives
& Design Features

Campus Development Strategy

• Creating flexible teaching, research, and collaboration spaces that foster interdisciplinary learning and innovation (Interdisciplinary Studies and Research – CDS 1.2).
• Improving campus connectivity by linking the lower South Valley area with the upper Engineering precinct and creating accessible pedestrian routes between key campus destinations (Achieve Barrier-Free Accessibility – CDS 1.2).
• Supporting student success through dedicated learning, project, collaboration, and informal gathering spaces that enhance the student experience (Continued Focus on the Student Experience – CDS 1.2)

Open Space Strategy

• Providing modern facilities that strengthen Western's ability to attract top students, researchers, faculty, and industry partnerships in high-demand fields (Academic Excellence and Global Competitiveness – OSS).

Climate & Sustainablity Strategy (Action Plan)

• Designing a high-performance building that supports Western's long-term carbon reduction and sustainability commitments through efficient building systems, durable materials, and reduced operational energy demand (Climate & Sustainability Strategy Action Plan).

Multiple Strategies

• Expanding academic and research capacity to support growth in engineering education, including artificial intelligence and software engineering programs (Advance Research Excellence & Innovation – Western Strategic Plan / OSS).
• Incorporating open-loop geothermal technology and targeting LEED Gold certification to reduce environmental impact and improve energy performance (Sustainability & Climate Resilience – CDS 1.2; Climate & Sustainability Strategy Action Plan).