University of Manitoba Opens Smartpark Innovation Hub

The University of Manitoba opened the $44.5 million Smartpark Innovation Hub in Winnipeg in June of 2019. Designed by Cibinel Architecture to foster collaborative partnerships between industry, academia, and government, the 75,000-sf facility provides laboratories, prototyping suites, multimedia training classrooms, conference rooms, a business incubator, and rentable space for companies. The North Forge Technology Exchange and the university's technology transfer office are located in the building, which includes a light-filled atrium, a café, and the Collision Corridor where tenants can come together and network in the shared space. The sustainably designed facility has attained LEED Silver certification and features intelligent environmental controls that will reduce the cost of lighting, ventilation, and overall electrical consumption. The advanced building envelope will regulate the amount of sunlight admitted into the structure, helping to minimize excess solar gain and offset energy consumption. The integrated design allows for maximum flexibility so that spaces can be reconfigured without making structural changes. The general contractor for the project was Bird Construction.