UNBC president George Iwama foresees the Wood Innovation and Design Centre as a place where engineers and forestry experts can collaborate and chart the course for the future of wood products.
A contract is expected to awarded for the $25 million project within weeks and construction could begin within two months in a building that Iwama said will house a cluster of expertise in wood design.
"We imagine the kind of expertise that will [lead to] research in new wood products and in building techniques and know-how that would utilize wood in creating large and even commercial structures," he said.
That research could include studies into what it would take to build larger wood buildings than the innovation centre itself.
UNBC has been involved in the design phase of the project to ensure it meets their specifications. Rather than include classrooms or generic offices, Iwama said the building will have the type of space the professors and professionals will need to conduct their research alongside graduate and post-doctoral students. There will likely also be opportunities for undergraduate students to take part in research at the facility.
The building could become a catalyst for the creation of a new engineering program at UNBC down the road, but that is dependent on future provincial government funding.
"No one hides the fact that we all want undergraduate engineering programs at UNBC and it's very high on everyone's agenda," Iwama said. "But the government in our province doesn't have the resources to invest at this time in such a program."
The wood centre project has been in the works for years and was in the news again this week when two local businessmen made complaints about the process. A provincial fairness advisor gave the green light for the contract to proceed, but said that some of the still unproven allegations were beyond the scope of her mandate.
Capital funding for the project is included in the project reserves section of the provincial budget tabled last week, but Iwama said he's working to ensure operational funds will be in place in time for the building's opening likely at the end of 2014. He said UNBC can't afford to run the programs at the wood centre out of its existing budget.
"The only concern I have is that the operating expenses be adequate," he said. "We have submitted our cost estimates and they have to be adequate. The university is in no position to take on what people might call a cost centre."
Once it's up and running, Iwama said the building will enhance existing UNBC programs and tie the university into ongoing downtown revitalization.
"We want to make Prince George an innovation centre for wood, more than it is today," he said.
