When you enter the Ed Lumley Centre for Engineering Innovation (CEI), you will not only walk into an architectural marvel, you will literally step into the future.
September 17 will mark the culmination of a five-year journey when we open the doors to the CEI and usher in a new era of learning and discovery at the University of Windsor.
That day, 1,221 engineering students will join more than 100 faculty and staff, and embark upon an experience that touches every goal in the University of Windsor’s strategic plan. The CEI is the direct result of the University’s commitment to: an exceptional student experience; strengthening research and graduate education; supporting our faculty and staff; and partnering with the region to build our community on a global scale. From day one, the CEI was designed to become a regional address for innovation, and to elevate UWindsor’s teaching and learning experience to a level of technical sophistication that rivals any other post-secondary institution in Canada.
Whenever I toured the facility over the summer as the project neared completion, what impressed me the most is the way the design provides stunning examples of engineering for functionality and aesthetic quality. There is a spaciousness that is truly inspiring, with classrooms and laboratories that incorporate technology, lighting and design to facilitate learning and innovation.
The inspirational vision for CEI is felt strongly across our campus, the region, and beyond. Corporate and individual donors and sponsors are demonstrating this with their engagement and their generosity. And the fundraising campaign continues; there are many opportunities to become a part of UWindsor’s innovative future before the official grand opening, which is scheduled for March of next year.
This facility would also not be possible without the dedication and expertise of dozens of our faculty and staff who have worked tirelessly these past seven years to help turn a vision into reality. In addition, students have played key roles in helping us ensure that the building will work for them.
In this issue of VIEW, we’re pleased to introduce you to this incredible facility and to the people who will be teaching, learning and discovering within its spaces. We also celebrate our donors whose contributions are enabling UWindsor to fulfill its goals and enrich the lives of students. We are fortunate to benefit from dedicated alumni, parents, and friends who share in our vision and, through their support, have joined our efforts to prepare our students and our campus for the future.
The Ed Lumley Centre for Engineering Innovation is a major piece of the larger campus transformation plan that is preparing UWindsor for the next 50 years. All of the projects now in planning—including our downtown campus for music, visual art, film and social work—are designed to build upon our commitment to our students, our community, and the needs of a changing world. I look forward to sharing our progress with you in the months to come.
Alan Wildeman
President and Vice-Chancellor
VIEW Magazine is produced by the University of Windsor Office of Public Affairs in tandem with the Office of Alumni and Donor Communications. Our goal is to connect and inspire the UWindsor community through news and stories that build pride in our alumni, current students, faculty, staff, donors and friends.
