The new Engineering Student Centre will be a new building on campus, devoted solely to the purpose of serving the needs of engineering students outside of the classroom. The project has been a student-led initiative since its earliest conception, and this continues to this day. Students currently occupy the chair of every committee involved with the project, and so continue to be the guiding hand behind its conception and development.

In order to ensure that the new space meets the needs of students, a comprehensive survey of the engineering student body was undertaken in 2007. Nearly 500 students provided feedback on a number of questions, ranging from their support for a new building, to the kinds of spaces they felt they most needed. The results formed the basis for determining what the new building would become: a space where students could study on their own or in groups, meet with one another to work on projects, and relax and socialize outside of the classroom.

To accommodate the need for these kinds of spaces, it was decided that the new building should encompass roughly 9,000 square feet. Of that space, nearly 30% of it will be reserved solely for single-study, group-study and computer lab space for students to use outside of classes. Along with that, close to 25% is designated as common and atrium spaces, to be used for studying, relaxing and socializing, depending on the need. The remainder of the building will provide for the storage, operation, administration and retail service needs for the entire undergraduate student body.

The building of the ESC will provide a great deal of indoor spaces for students, but will also revitalize the outdoor spaces available to them as well. The ESC is planned to be built in the courtyard encompassed by the CEME, MacLeod and Fred Kaiser buildings. To make room for this building, The Cheeze will be deconstructed, with the intention of including some of its materials into the new building. Extensive landscaping will also be taking place, to provide students with an outdoor gathering space, suitable events and recreation when the weather permits.