Canada and Ontario invest to renew infrastructure at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s new Software and Informatics Research Centre (SIRC) will receive a $13 million investment from the federal and provincial governments.

This joint federal-provincial investment was announced today by Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Member of Parliament for Whitby and Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and by Granville Anderson, Member of Provincial Parliament for Durham.

• Link to Government of Canada news release

The funding will support the Software and Informatics Research Centre (SIRC), which will act as a hub for research in health and business analytics, IT security, networking, gaming, and software engineering at UOIT. SIRC will promote interdisciplinary and experiential learning for students in computer science, IT and engineering. SIRC will also enable e-learning and more e-guest lectures and interactions with industries through innovative digital and conferencing technology.

Of the $33.5 million investment, $11.8 million will come from the federal government and $1.2 million from the Government of Ontario. The university will fund the remainder of the building’s construction from its capital reserves, as well as with support from the university’s donors, alumni and benefactors in the business community.

The funding from the Government of Canada is being allocated through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, which will enhance and modernize research facilities on Canadian campuses and improve the environmental sustainability of these facilities.

Improving post-secondary infrastructure is also part of the Provincial Government's economic plan to build Ontario and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The plan is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history and investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses.

Quotes

“These infrastructure investments will help create high quality, well-paying jobs that can help the middle class grow and prosper today, while also delivering sustained economic growth in the Durham Region for years to come. Through the Strategic Investment Fund, we are strengthening the foundation for building Canada into a global centre for innovation.”
-Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Member of Parliament for Whitby

“This once-in-a-generation investment by the Government of Canada is a historic down payment on the government’s vision to position Canada as a global centre for innovation. That means making Canada a world leader in turning ideas into solutions, science into technologies, skills into jobs and start-up companies into global successes. This investment will create conditions that are conducive to innovation and long-term growth, which will in turn keep the Canadian economy globally competitive.”
–The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

“Encouraging scientific awareness in Durham and across Canada depends on supporting our world-class scientists and researchers. Through investments such as those under the Strategic Investment Fund, we are continuing to lay the groundwork for making Canada a global leader in scientific excellence.”
-The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science

“UOIT has, since its inception, been a leader in terms of innovation. This new Software and Informatics Research Centre will allow the university to build on and expand that work, while at the same time providing more students with the learning environment and opportunities they require.”
-Granville Anderson, Member of Provincial Parliament for Durham

“The Government of Canada’s investment in our university will help to make Durham Region and Northumberland County a leading hub of new knowledge generation, skills development and economic success. It is also an investment in our students—the entrepreneurial young women and men who will be the citizen leaders of tomorrow.”
-Tim McTiernan, PhD, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Quick facts

• SIRC promotes interdisciplinary approaches between computer scientists, IT specialists and engineers by clustering the university’s expertise in health and business analytics, IT security, networking, gaming, and software engineering.
• SIRC will feature four new reconfigurable classrooms and nearly 280 square metres of new student study space.
• The lower two of SIRC’s four-storeys are scheduled to open in Fall 2017. The upper levels are currently 'shelled space' for future expansion as new funding or research opportunities become available, without the need to build another structure.
• SIRC will house three Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science labs. Most equipment will be mobile to facilitate interchangeability among labs.
• The Office of the Registrar will condense its operations from five locations into a single location in SIRC (using 22 per cent less space than present). This helps the university use space more efficiently and frees up student space in existing campus buildings.
• The overall SIRC project is valued at $33.5 million.
• At 7,600 square metres, SIRC will be slightly smaller than the university’s Energy Systems and Nuclear Science Research Centre (ERC).
• SIRC creates a new learning landmark at the northeast corner of Conlin Road and Founders Drive at the university’s north Oshawa location. The building of SIRC sets the stage for the university’s future development of the Windfields Farm lands.

Additional resources

• Software and Informatics Research Centre (SIRC) website
• SIRC backgrounder (PDF)
• Government of Canada Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund
• Dialog Design (prime design consultant)
• EllisDon (design build team general contractor)

Media contact

Bryan Oliver
Communications and Marketing
University of Ontario Institute of Technology
905.721.8668 ext. 6709
289.928.3653 (cell)
bryan.oliver@uoit.ca

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