T H E聽聽 D A L H O U S I E聽聽 D I F F E R E N C E
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| Artist's rendering of the IDEA building. |
In Canada, innovation drives the economy. And new technologies, fresh ideas and design-based work are resources that will keep us at the cusp of innovation.聽We will come to rely on a different type of leader鈥搊ne with diverse skills, knowledge and talents鈥揻or our future prosperity.
That is the catalyst for broad sweeping changes within AV俱乐部鈥檚 Faculties of Engineering and Architecture & Planning.聽 There are curriculum changes underway and plans for shared facilities and joint projects.
At the heart of these changes is a stronger affinity to design 鈥� which is at the very core of innovation. By using design as a problem-solving technique students gain a broader perspective and begin to understand that there may be a number of possible solutions.聽
鈥淓ngineers used to be taught that there was only one answer.聽Now we encourage our students to think more big picture,鈥� says Josh Leon, Dean, Faculty of Engineering. 鈥淚t鈥檚 new ideas that translate into ingenuity.鈥�
A new facility will, by its very design, bring together related Faculties, not just various engineering disciplines. Coined the IDEA (Innovation and Design in Engineering an Architecture) Building, it will define the future of engineering, architecture and planning at AV俱乐部.聽 It will be a contemporary space to learn the art of design.
鈥淲hen students from different disciplines share the same workshops and design labs, a cross-pollination of ideas and perspectives happen naturally, says Christine Macy, Dean, Architecture and Planning. 鈥淭his means a richer education experience. Students will graduate job-ready and go on to become more competent, more capable professionals. 鈥�
When completed,聽the IDEA Building聽will boast enhanced technology, flexible work stations, student work rooms, design labs, common areas, an auditorium and a place to showcase student projects and achievements. It will also have a strong presence in Halifax鈥檚 vibrant downtown.
Engineering students are looking forward to improvements the IDEA building can offer.
Third-year engineering student Shannon Labute says space is a huge issue on Sexton campus and last term she took a second-year engineering course located in a medical school building. It wasn鈥檛 ideal because the desks had wheels on them, there were big screens everywhere and it difficult to hear and see the professor. A new building with more space for engineering students would be 鈥減erfect,鈥� she says.
鈥淚t will be nice to have the new building, with new laboratories and classrooms,鈥� says Ms. Labute, 24. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 going to be pretty amazing.鈥�
Wei Sang, a fifth-year chemical engineering student, likes the concept for the new building and is disappointed that he鈥檒l graduate before it鈥檚 built. Amin Al-Hasseini, also a fifth-year chemical engineering student, agrees. There are limited computers and study spaces right now, and a new building would 鈥渄efinitely be a nice improvement.鈥�
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| A drawing of the IDEA building on Sexton campus. |
This article is part of the AV俱乐部 Difference series, introducing and showcasing some of the 50 innovative projects in development. The first story, "The AV俱乐部 Difference," explored what the power of philanthropy means to a university like AV俱乐部. "Imagining where they can be" unveilled the new TD Black Student Opportunity Grants. And "All in a Day's work" introduced the new scholarship fund created in the name of Sir Graham Day.