Students have reason to celebrate as the British Columbia Institute of Technology opens the renovated and expanded Gateway building at its Burnaby campus.

BCIT will celebrate the grand opening of a new wing and renovated three wings of the central quad on BCIT's Burnaby campus. The new 5,280-square-metre wing of BCIT's central quad houses 33 new multi-use, exam and project rooms and additional study areas in the atrium. Student services have been moved into the new wing which serves as the campus welcoming centre for visitors and prospective students.

Renovations to the other three wings include renewed lab and classroom space and additional faculty offices. The project also included seismic upgrading, the installation of additional fire suppression sprinklers, upgrades to electrical service and to the campus IT network.

Minister of State (Seniors) and MP for Richmond Alice Wong and Advanced Education Minister Naomi Yamamoto will be joined by BCIT executive, staff and students to officially open BCIT's newest facility at the Burnaby campus.

The provincial government contributed $22.75 million and the federal government contributed $16.3 million through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program. In addition, BCIT contributed $420,000, while BC Hydro contributed $248,000 to implement energy-reduction measures throughout the project.

The new construction is targeted to be registered as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold project. Some of the environmental features include: use of enhanced daylight capture technology, energy-efficient heat pumps technology - geo-exchange system plus extensive heat recovery, energy-efficient lighting and equipment, use of recycled material and use of a micro-electrical grid.

The Knowledge Infrastructure Program is a joint federal-provincial investment designed to renew infrastructure at post-secondary institutions across B.C. while also providing local jobs for communities. This is one of 39 projects at post-secondary institutions throughout the province with a total investment of approximately $520 million including contributions from institutions.

Quotes:

BCIT Board of Governors chair Michael McPhie -

"We are deeply appreciative of the contributions made by the federal and provincial governments, and by BC Hydro to the capital renewal of BCIT. This building is a wonderful new "front door" for BCIT and will help enhance our continuing contribution to the prosperity of B.C."

Learn more:

• British Columbia Institute of Technology: http://www.bcit.ca/
• BCIT Gateway Project: http://www.bcit.ca/gateway/
• Knowledge Infrastructure Program: http://ic.gc.ca/knowledge-infrastructure

Media Contacts:

Joanne Whittier
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 952-6400

Stephanie Thomas
Special Assistant (Communications)
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
613 960-7728