University of Waterloo Breaks Ground on Quantum-Nano Centre

The University of Waterloo broke ground on the $160 million Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre (QNC) in June of 2008. Uniting research and engineering in quantum information technology and nanotechnology, the five-story facility will house the Institute for Quantum Computing, the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, and undergraduate nanotechnology engineering instruction. The 280,000-sf interdisciplinary facility will include faculty offices, two atria, teaching and research labs, seminar rooms, a 10,000-sf fabrication cleanroom, and a metrology suite. Designed by KPMB Architects of Toronto, the project will be constructed to provide a research environment with minimal vibration, radio frequency interference, and electromagnetic interference. The project contractor is Aecon Group Inc. The Quantum-Nano Centre is expected to open by early 2011.