New Building Townhall

February 14th, 2023

This Presentation

Agenda

• Presentation (10 min)
• Q&A (25 min)
• Dr. Kenneth Coley, Dean of Engineering
• Myeesha Siddique, UES President
• Chris Mohan, New Building Committee Chair

Project Context

Spring 2021

• New AI Systems Engineering Program approved
• Need for new office & research space for new Faculty

Summer 2021

• UES President inquires about UES buying into the space
• A similar exchange was done with McMaster Engineering

October 2021

• UES Council discusses what student involvement possibilities (Presentation)
• An unofficial vote is conducted on whether UES Council would support a $100 fee over 10 years. The result is 70% for and 27% against.

November 2021

• UES Council moves forward to create a New Building Committee of students who will lead student consultation in the building

Project Context

Summer & Fall 2022

• New Building Committee meets with Faculty and architects to give student input into visioning

January 2023

• Western UES signs MOU with Western University to outline the students’ stake in the new building

February 2023

• UES initiates a referendum to create a new student fee of $75 over 10 years

February 16th-17th

• Voting

Project Context

• Building will support the new Artificial Intelligence Systems Eng. Program
• 6,400 sq. ft. of student space, approx. 1 floor dedicated for student experience
• Architect: Perkins & Will → Very open to student feedback and engagement

Similar Projects

Capital and operating costs for Western’s Rec Centre is funded by a $60/year student fee. The fee was granted by referendum in 2006 until 2036

A student referendum in 2013 at McMaster Engineering created a fee to support the development of the Hatch Centre

The Cost

Student Fee�$75 per student

10 Years

Student Space

~6,400 net sq. ft.

Student Space Funding

~$6M

Student Fee

• Would need to be voted by all Undergraduate Engineering students via a referendum

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• Investing in the building directly provides us with a larger stake in the planning process

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• Student investment will result in more faculty/donor support

Faculty and Donors Matching

~$2M +2M

Student Proceeds

~$2M

The Need

We are Growing

Club Space

Undergraduate enrollment spiked during the Pandemic, and will continue to grow. First year class sizes were ~600 in 2018 and have grown to over 800. We need more study & social space for our growing population.

Clubs space has been an ongoing issue for our clubs system (even before the pandemic). New clubs are left without space to build their projects, and existing clubs continue to struggle with the space they have.

Growing Student Population

580

800+

1st Year Class 2019-2020

1st Year Class 2022-2023

The Referendum Question

“Do you agree to an annual engineering student levy of $75.00 for a period of 10 years in support of student space in the New Engineering Building?”

Student Priorities

1. Club Spaces
1. Garages
2. Offices
3. Composite Room

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• Dedicated Study Room or Classroom
• Similar to Social Science Reading Room
• Multi-purpose: Study & for Club/Event Booking

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• Multi-faith Prayer Room

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• Bookable Meeting Rooms
• 4-10 students, similar to in ACEB

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• Social Space
• New Location for +/- Store
• Location for Student-run Cafe

Why Vote Yes?

6,400 sq. ft. of student space

Clubs space, study space, multi-faith prayer room

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Strong student voice in the process

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Investing in Western Engineering’s future

Questions?

Student Engagement Thus Far

June 2022

• First Visioning Session attended by committee members
• Student space highlighted as a key priority by many attendees (including staff & professors)

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July 2022

• Draft Agreement shared with Western Engineering admin.
• Still in progress, will detail proceeds students will provide to building, how much space will be allocated for students, and how space will be managed

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August 2022

• Current student space inventory conducted with members of Western Engineering admin.
• 1/2 student consultation meeting with architect

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September 2022

• 2/2 student consultation meeting with architect

Where do we go from here?

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Referendum

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• New Referendum Policy was Passed by the UES Council yesterday
• 25% voter participation rate now required
• ⅔ supermajority now required

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Continuous Engagement

• Continue to attend planning meetings for Building
• Provide feedback and share all designs and schematics as the come

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Approx. Student Shop Plans (3000 sq. ft.)