Everything’s coming up Laurentian this month, it seems.
A few weeks after announcing a more than $100-million funding infusion for its Metal Earth project and its Department of Earth Sciences (now renamed the Harquail School of Earth Sciences), Laurentian is receiving $27.3 million to support its $60-million Research, Innovation and Engineering Centre (RIE Centre), and an expansion to its Science and Engineering building, adding a total of 47,000 square feet and allowing the school to modernize the existing space.
In a press release, LU said the RIE Centre supports university-wide research and innovation at LU’s seven faculties, and includes laboratories; innovation and collaboration space (which will bring NORCAT onto the campus); a Centre for Innovation and Research Analytics; an Engineering capstone area; a material and structure testing facility; a machine shop; a fluids and hydraulic lab; an integrated software lecture theatre, and; a general receiving and storage area.
Of the $27.3 million the school received, $21 million comes from the federal government, with $6.3 million from the province ($5 million from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation), and $1.3 million from the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development’s Facilities Renewal Program, Laurentian said.
Deputy Premier Deb Matthews, who is also the Advanced Education and Skills Development minister, was on hand for the announcement, along with Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre, Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré, and Sudbury MPP and Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault.
The government dollars will fund just about half of the $60.7-million project.
The federal money flows from the Strategic Investment Fund announced in the feds’ 2016 budget.
The new RIE Centre will be located between the Fraser and Parker buildings on the Laurentian Campus.
Sudbury.com will have more on this story a little later on today.
