Walking through Royal Roads UniversityB次元官网网址檚 (RRU) new centre for environmental science and international partnership, the past and present feel very much alive.
From the outside, the sturdy wood frame and white walls stand tall and are a reminder of the Dunsmuir family that once lived on the property in the early 1900s.
Stepping into the building is like walking into the 21st century. Windows stretch from the floor to the ceiling, letting light stream in and students work diligently on laptops and lounge in green and blue chairs.
B次元官网网址淭his is both an environmental science building, but itB次元官网网址檚 also an international and cross-cultural centre,B次元官网网址� said RRU president Allan Cahoon of the recently-opened building. B次元官网网址淲ith this space, weB次元官网网址檙e actually putting students, programs, labs, faculty, administration all here.B次元官网网址�
The state-of-the-art facility, called the Sherman Jen building, is the universityB次元官网网址檚 first named building. Located near the recreation centre, the building will become home to on-campus undergraduate programs in a wide range of fields including environmental science, tourism, and business and international student programs.
The heritage building-turned learning space spans more than 4,800 square metres, while the brand new south wing adds roughly 1,800 square metres of space. The Sherman Jen building includes 11 digitally-integrated classrooms, advanced laboratories and teaching spaces, office spaces, a coffee shop, and a new hub.
In addition, the building also reduces the universityB次元官网网址檚 environmental footprint. Features include smart technology window glass, which adjusts its tint level to block glare, UV radiation and solar overheating of spaces; lighting controlled by motion sensors in classrooms, offices and washrooms; electrical outlets that turn off when a space is unoccupied; as well as a boiler that provides 98 per cent energy efficiency.
Those features are expected to save roughly 1,230 gigajoules in total energy B次元官网网址� the equivalent of saving about 200 barrels of oil each year B次元官网网址� and reduce 44 tonnes of total carbon emissions every year.
B次元官网网址淲e need something that innovative,B次元官网网址� Cahoon explained. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have departments, we donB次元官网网址檛 have disciplines, we have schools, we use technology B次元官网网址� things that are relevant. Having a building should be able to reflect what you say youB次元官网网址檙e doing.B次元官网网址�
Originally built in 1914, the building was used by the Dunsmuir family first as a stable and then as a garage. Over the years, what was formerly called the Mews building was used by Royal Roads Military College and then by the university as a classroom, conference and office facility.
Renovations on the century-old building began two years ago and was funded through the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 post-secondary institutions strategic investment fund, the province and a $7-million donation from philanthropist Sherman Jen, for whom the building is named after.
Despite the renovations, the building still has connections to its storied past.
Nearly 60 per cent of the total floor area is made up of the existing wood frame structure. The windows were also built using panes from the previous windows.
Like us on and follow us on
.jpg)