February 18, 2008

Green Building

University College of the Fraser Valley recycles not just materials, but buildings in new trades training facility

Richard Gilbert

staff writer

Trades training just became more accessible in parts of the Lower Mainland.

The University College of the Fraser Valley (UCFV) in Chilliwack, B.C. opened a $21.6 million Trades and Technology Centre, the largest “recycled” training facility in the province.

The centre was built within the shell of an existing building, using large portions of recycled material. It officially opened on Feb. 11.

The facility was announced as being built to LEED standards, but there was no indication on whether UCFV was seeking LEED certification on the project or if it just followed green building practices for the construction of the building.

Electrical and mechanical systems were also designed to be energy efficient.

“This new building is part of our master plan for the new campus, which will ultimately allow us to double the number of students we service in Chilliwack,” said Skip Bassford, UCFV president.

“This is great news for our local economy since Chilliwack’s business-friendly environment is attracting a lot of new companies that all require skilled workers.”

The new centre offers students in the construction industry a variety of programs, including architectural drafting, carpentry, welding, joinery and electrical work.

The building has a number of state-of-the-art features, including a highly automated computer numerical control machine used for delicate woodworking in the carpentry/joinery shop and the first programmable robotic welding arm to be used in a training facility in Western Canada.

The 2.5-acre Trades and Technology Centre is part of the Canada Education Park.

It is a collaborative initiative between the city of Chilliwack, the UCFV, the Justice Institute of B.C. and the provincial government.

The goal of the initiative is to redevelop lands at the former Canadian Forces Base in Chilliwack into an education and research park.

The new education park is expected to serve up to 13,000 post-secondary students, as well as academic staff and researchers.

The park will also be the location of a new campus for UCFV and the Justice Institute.

The site will include a new Chinese Cultural University, to be developed by UCFV and two affiliated post-secondary institutions based in Beijing.

There will be a new research and development centre, operated by UCFV, to focus on gaining value from B.C. wood products.

UCFV is aiming to have 1,800 students on the new Canada Education Park campus by 2010, meeting the needs of both employers and students.

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