UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
Cenovus Energy invests $1.5 million in Engineering Design Hub at USask

"We are grateful for this partnership with Cenovus that demonstrates our shared vision to prepare the engineers of the future," said USask President and Vice-Chancellor Peter Stoicheff. "With Cenovus's support in creating new dynamic learning environments, our students will gain the confidence and experience to lead in an ever-changing engineering landscape."

The investment will play a key role in advancing the Engineering Innovation, Design, Engineering, and Applied Sciences (IDEAS) initiative, a transformation of the College of Engineering building that will include strategic renovations and targeted expansions. The IDEAS expansion will allow for stimulating learning opportunities that inspire and prepare the next generation of highly skilled engineers at USask. 

Cenovus is a Canadian-based integrated energy company headquartered in Calgary, Alta., contributing $1 million towards the new Cenovus Energy Makerspace. The renovated space will feature two distinct areas: a fabrication area where students can access advanced tools such as polymer 3D printers and laser cutters; and an adjoining area specifically designed for testing prototypes and design projects. An additional $500,000 from Cenovus will support programming within the Makerspace to ensure USask engineering students have opportunities to collaborate, exchange ideas, and boost their capacity to solve complex engineering problems facing our world today.

"The University of Saskatchewan has been contributing to our communities for its more than 100-year history," said Cenovus Executive Vice-President, Corporate Development and Chief Sustainability Officer Jeff Lawson. "Through our partnership, we'll foster the next generation of engineers to ensure growth in our industry and help innovation thrive. The creation of the Cenovus Energy Makerspace is key to our collective effort to inspire and build a robust pipeline of future leaders."

"We are deeply grateful for Cenovus's visionary investment in establishing the Cenovus Energy Makerspace," said USask Dean of Engineering Dr. Michael Bradley (PhD). "This transformative donation will advance the planned strategic renovations of the Hardy Lab into the Engineering Design Hub, which will be the largest hands-on engineering laboratory at any Canadian university. The Cenovus Energy Makerspace will empower our students to bring their ideas to life, build prototypes, and explore new materials and techniques. It's a space where innovation will thrive, industry partnerships will deepen, and future engineers will hone the skills they will need to solve real-world challenges in the exciting years to come."

Cenovus's support shows that momentum is building for the Engineering Design Hub, part of the larger IDEAS initiative. Plans for the Hub also include the development of a capstone design space, shops for metals, wood, plastic, composite and electronics, as well as a student design garage bay.

For students like Rosy Hettiarachchi, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student and systems and propulsion co-lead of the USask Space Design Team Rocketry Project, Cenovus Energy's investment is welcome news.

"Cenovus's generous support will make a meaningful difference for students in the College of Engineering," said Hettiarachchi. "The dedicated space and enhanced resources will give future students the freedom to innovate and collaborate without the space and machining constraints our team faced. This investment will have a lasting impact on our journey to become engineers the world needs.

Cenovus's generous investment supports USask's Be What the World Needs campaign which is set to wrap up next month.