THUNDER BAY, ON – Alongside project partners and supporters, Confederation College celebrated an important milestone Friday. Its Technology, Education, and Collaboration (TEC) Hub, currently under construction, is now fully enclosed signaling significant progress on the project with the building on track for its scheduled completion in the spring of 2018. Programming in the new facility will begin in the fall of 2018. As part of the celebration, project funders were treated to an inside look at the construction progress with a tour of the building.
“Reaching this milestone in our TEC Hub construction is a beautiful gift just in time for the holiday season. I applaud our project partners for their hard work and professionalism, which has led us to this moment and positions us well for completion in the spring as scheduled. I also extend my deepest gratitude to our project funders for their generous support of our vision to create this multipurpose space for the benefit of our students, community and regional economy through opportunities for postsecondary education, skills training, innovation and entrepreneurship,” states Jim Madder, President, Confederation College.
“The Technology, Education and Collaboration Hub will be a wonderful asset to our region as we continue to diversify our economy and our workforce. It truly is a strategic investment as the TEC Hub ensures today’s students will have great jobs in in-demand industries tomorrow,” said Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour and MP Thunder Bay-Superior North.
“I am proud of our government’s investment in the Technology, Education, and Collaboration Hub construction. We are one significant step closer to building an improved learning environment that will increase the skilled and developed workforce for all of Northwestern Ontario,” says Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines and MPP Thunder Bay-Superior North
“I am proud of our Province’s investment in Confederation College’s Technology, Education and Collaboration (TEC) Hub. Not only will the TEC Hub ensure that College graduates are well prepared for today’s jobs, which often require cross trades training, but it will also be an excellent resource to business and industry in other ways through its research and business development capacity. I want to congratulate, and thank, Confederation College for the vision and innovation that the TEC Hub represents, and for its continued commitment to meeting the ever-changing needs of business and industry across our region,” enthused Bill Mauro, Minister of Municipal Affairs and MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan
“The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) would like to congratulate Confederation College on the new Technology, Education & Collaboration (TEC) Hub that will host vibrant research, incubation and technology transfer services in support of the region’s manufacturing, technology, and resource sectors,” comments Doug Murray, CEO, Thunder Bay CEDC.
The TEC Hub will contribute to the development of a skilled, employment-ready technology and trades workforce for northwestern Ontario. It will also host vibrant research, incubation, and technology transfer services to support the region’s advanced manufacturing, technology and resource sectors.
An extension of the existing McIntyre Building at Confederation’s Thunder Bay campus, the $19 million project is creating a 45,000 square foot space, which includes three main clusters: industry skills and sustainability instruction, advanced manufacturing technology, and innovation and incubation.
The design-build contract for the TEC Hub was awarded to a joint venture between Penn-Co Construction Canada (2003) Limited (build) and Stantec Architecture Limited (design). Colliers Project Leaders was hired by the College to lead project management.
The new facility will support the College’s engineering technology programs, welcome the Aerospace Manufacturing program, currently located within the school’s Aviation Centre of Excellence, and provide pathways for skilled trades programming, specifically for Indigenous learners. All of this will lead to the ability to support more students through learning and will open the door for new programming to be developed as industry needs continue to evolve.
The TEC Hub will also create important opportunities for collaboration, inviting community partners to participate in research and development, and offering space for regional groups and individuals to pursue their own projects. Fostering innovation and entrepreneurship will be a cornerstone of the new facility.
The $19 million project has received funding from the Government of Canada through the Strategic Investment Fund, the Province of Ontario, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, the Thunder Bay CEDC and Confederation College. For more information, visit www.confederationcollege.ca/TEC-Hub.