April 29, 2019
荔枝视频's new City Building Design Lab receives $1.5 million in funding at official opening
On April 26, the newly named School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape celebrated the official opening of the City Building Design Lab (CBDL) by accepting a $1.5 million investment from the 荔枝视频 Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC).
The faculty, formerly known as Environmental Design, is occupying the main floor and basement of the former Central Library building in partnership with CMLC. The funding 鈥 CMLC鈥檚 largest single investment in its history 鈥 will support programming over five years at the city-centre location.
鈥淭he School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape is focused on city building, and the new City Building Design Lab puts our students and researchers at the heart of the action in downtown 荔枝视频,鈥 says the faculty鈥檚 dean, Dr. John Brown. Brown is pictured above, left, with Councillor Druh Farrell during a tour of the new City Building Design Lab.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in the East Village, one of 荔枝视频鈥檚 most dynamic urban neighbourhoods, across the street from City Hall, and within walking distance of most major architecture, planning, and landscape architecture offices. Our presence adds a new creative vitality to downtown, and our exhibition gallery and event space are ideal places to invite the citizens of 荔枝视频 to join us in an ongoing discussion about what kind of city we want to build for the future.鈥
Outfitted with a robotic arm, 3D printers, robotic fabrication and a full gallery of projects, the City Building Design Lab is a unique space to 荔枝视频鈥檚 city centre that brings together students, faculty, business professionals, entrepreneurs, and city officials to produce leading-edge research and explore innovations in environmental design.
鈥淎s students, we are excited to be part of the activation of the City Building Design Lab,鈥 says Meghan Lamb, master's student in architecture.
鈥淭his move coincides with the positive urbanism themes we study every day and will give us a new, exposed place in the downtown core to make an impression on the public. This building was always a place for gathering, learning, and sharing 鈥 we are honoured to carry forward its legacy.鈥
鈥淭he legacy of the building is a concept that we carried through our year-end show, Making Our Mark, which will open to public on May 1,鈥 adds Master of Planning student Edward Spink.
鈥淭he annual exhibition is a chance for the public and our industry stakeholders to see graduating students鈥 studios and a selection of other years鈥 work, demonstrating to the public how our projects, though theoretical, deal with real spatial issues and aim to enhance 荔枝视频 through environmental design. I鈥檓 excited to see how students, researchers and community builders can work collaboratively to develop new innovations for the future of city building in 荔枝视频 and beyond.鈥
In addition to elevating 荔枝视频 into a world-class incubator for design research and development, the City Building Design Lab will begin attracting design professionals to the city for community events, symposia, lectures, workshops and more.