I’ve just put the first of the Engineering Student Centre info up!
If you’d like to discuss the project, come to an info session or use this thread. I’ll moderate the comments and make sure the ESC committee sees them.
I’ve just put the first of the Engineering Student Centre info up!
If you’d like to discuss the project, come to an info session or use this thread. I’ll moderate the comments and make sure the ESC committee sees them.
Matthew Lam wrote
Engineering students are currently paying for a new SUB building fee as well, which I believe will also increase gradually, like the ESC levy. There needs to be a balance or consideration as to what a student can afford to fund. It does not make sense to support both ventures in its entirety. Personally, the SUB has less of a academic and social connection that I would prefer to support only the ESC.
Additionally, consideration to redesign or expand the scope of the design to the exterior space. This space also needs to be developed and to function as more of a outdoor plaza (perhaps terraced) with benches and allows and interplay between the interior and exterior areas. This entire outdoor area should also be protected with weather protection, such as a large glass canopy.
Andrew Carne wrote
Thanks for your comment Matthew.
Students are indeed currently paying for a new Student Union Building as well. While I understand your hesitation in regards to paying for both buildings, unfortunately we are unable to allow students to choose which they would prefer to pay towards, due to the nature of the referenda. We also feel that the SUB has less of a connection for Engineering students, both due to the nature of it’s programming and it’s location on campus, which is why we still feel it is important to pursue the ESC initiative.
We will definitely be redesigning the courtyard space in conjunction with this building project, should the referendum pass. I completely agree with you that we need more of a plaza feel with functional outdoor seating and useable areas. We at one point investigated the potential of erecting a large class canopy over part of the courtyard, but unfortunately cost was prohibitive.
Daniel Been wrote
Will the referendum question clearly state that the ESC fee will stop when the student portion of the cost has been paid off?
Is there a clear procedure in place for determining when the cost has been recovered and to stop collecting fees from students?
Kian Shoai wrote
Where will the ESC be located? Will it be replacing the cheeze? If so, then we engineers be without a space during the construction period?
Alex Taylor-Noonan wrote
Kian,
It will be located in the current Cheeze site as will be a replacement. You can check out some of the drawings in the ESC site to see how it will be.
Yes, we will be without the Cheeze during construction, but keep in mind that with the state it is in, we may be without it no matter what.
Lin Watt wrote
Hello Daniel and Kian,
Thank you for your questions! Daniel, the referendum question states “The Fee would continue to be levied until the EUS has completed all its financing obligations for the new Engineering Student Center.” I am afraid I don’t know enough to answer your other question about the termination of the fee; I’ll ask Andrew Carne to reply.
Kian, Alex is completely right. However, the faculty would support us by assigning us temporary replacement space so that during construction we would still have student space. Construction would also be timed so that students would be in the temporary space for as short a time as possible.
I hope that helps!
Andrew Carne wrote
Hi Daniel,
As Lin mentioned, there is a clause in the referendum regarding termination after the student obligation has been paid off. Following a successful referendum we (the EUS and the ESC Committee) would draft up a memorandum of understanding with the faculty and determine the terms of the loan into which the student fee would pay. Once this has been developed, we will be able to determine the exact length of the fee.