The Government of Canada contributed $37.5 million for a LEED-Silver 45,000 square-foot addition and major lab renovations for the Arthur Bourns Building. The Ontario Government provided an additional $5.5 million, Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator contributed $7.6 million and the university invested $24.3 million.

“Our investments have helped to make McMaster one of Canada’s most research-intensive universities,” said the Hon. Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors and MPP for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas, on behalf of Federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains.

The infrastructure project further strengthens interdisciplinary research collaborations between the Faculties of Science and Engineering, said Maureen. “Scientists and engineers will be working together in new ways to advance discovery and knowledge.”

The renovated labs in the Arthur Bourns Building will focus on collaborative research into energy storage and computing, biocompatible polymers and natural projects, chemical biology and biomedical technology, The first floor and basement were also renovated for mass spectrometry and magnetic resonance facilities.

Along with thanking the Government of Canada, Maureen acknowledged Gillian Goward, Alex Adronov, Leah Allan and Seanna-Lin Brodie-Keys for leading the renewal project on behalf of the Faculty of Science and thanks to faculty and staff for their patience during the renovations. Maureen also thanked Wade Beitel from Facility Services for coordinating the multi-year project and temporary relocation of an entire wing of Chemistry and Chemical Biology research groups.

“With these investments in the Arthur Bourns Building, the quality of our lab facilities is now equal to the calibre of our faculty and students,” said Maureen.