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WINTER 2018 23 Electrical, Construction and Machining. A 6,000-square-foot space, "Smart Factory," was recently added to the project and will act as a technology demonstration site and experiential learning facility. With the opening of STTC this past August the College was able to grow its capacity by about 1,000 students per year, while creating a public space in which trades education is on display to prospective students and the community. Looking to the future, the College also broke ground on its new 100,000-square- foot Innovation Centre in the heart of the Exchange District. The space will be a hub for innovation, business and technology in Winnipeg's Exchange District and will welcome industry partners (both entrepreneurs and established businesses) to explore new ideas through a collaborative education model. "The idea builds on what we've been doing at our ACE Project Space for the last decade — which is pair students directly with businesses to work together on a real-life project," said Vogt. "They may be working with and learning from mentors in the industry with years of experience, and they may be working with students from another program in multi- disciplinary teams. Both scenarios provide invaluable training that you can't get by sitting in a classroom and taking notes." Housed within the Innovation Centre will be programs in Business, Technology, Information Security, Digital Media Design, Video Game Development, Marketing and Communications — as well as new programs in Indigenous Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise. The new building will also be home to the ACE Project Space, and the Language Training Centre, creating a larger sense of community on campus. Local businesses will have the opportunity to create partnerships and book space in the building for satellite offices, product research and development, and product testing — as well as events in one of the building's two larger spaces, the Agora and the 210-seat Roundhouse Auditorium. "We've been building roots in the Exchange District for the last 15 years and we're excited to keep going. This new building will belong to the community. It will bring an additional 1,200 students and staff to the area every day. With more people comes more opportunities for businesses to open and the neighbourhood to flourish — we'll be excited to look back another 15 years from now and see what's changed," said Vogt. There is a need for support on this project. Facilities and equipment will need to be continually upgraded, repaired and replaced. To keep up with demand for innovative programs, Red River College is asking for local businesses to give back by making a financial contribution its capital campaign. Spaces within the new Innovation Centre are available currently for naming opportunities through donor recognition. Your donation will help the College continue to keep its programs and equipment cutting edge, providing its students with the opportunities to graduate ahead of the curve, and as leaders in their chosen fields. To get involved, visit rrc.ca/fundraising or call the campaign office at 204-632-3999. ■ Renderings provided by Number TEN Architectural Group and Diamond Schmitt Architects

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