The Wilson School of Design of Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) opened last week is expected to make Richmond the hub of B.C.’s design industry.
“It is a great opportunity to open the world-class innovative design facility right here in Richmond,” Matt Pitcairn, president and CEO of Richmond Chamber of Commerce, told the Richmond News.
“I’m very excited about that and hopefully the cluster of businesses that will emerge around the design school in Richmond can be leaders in innovative technology, not just locally in Canada, but around the world.”
He added that, with Richmond being located close to the airport and ports, we are “so well positioned to design world class products and ship them to customers around the globe.”
The new $36-million facility, named after Lulu Lemon founder Chip Wilson and his wife Shannon Wilson — who contributed $8 million — provides a five-floor space for students from all the seven existing programs of KPU’s design school, which was previously located in the university's main building.
Programs include fashion design and technology, product design, interior design, graphic design for marketing and a diploma in technical apparel design.
“The highlight of the building is that the space is so bright, transparent and interactive,” said Carolyn Robertson, dean of the Wilson School of Design.
“In a big way, it is going to allow students to interact more, to let other designs to be witnessed, more generation of ideas and sharing of ideas.
“If you see the big windows, see the lights...it’s a very inspiring space, and inspiration is so important for design.”
She said the new building has increased their ability to have more developed technology, more advanced equipment, and a bigger student and faculty base.
About 140 full-time seats will be added to the design school, making it a total of more than 680 students.
More cutting-edge equipment, such as 3D printers, ultrasonic welders and laser cutters are also installed for student use, and a light lab is in place for students to test the design effect under different light conditions.
As the only solely-design school in B.C. and one of the largest in Canada, Robertson hopes the new facility will attract the attention of more businesses within the design industry.
“We have had such wonderfully strong support from the industry, and we hope this will help that continue and expand as we go,” said Robertson.
“Maybe, among the ones who didn’t know us, hadn’t noticed us before, or didn’t really interact with us as much, we will increase our profile, so they see what we are doing.”
One of the features of the new building is a design research network room, a space where students meet with industry leaders and work on projects together.
“The key of the design school is we work really closely with industry,” said Robertson.
“What we are expanding on now is joint research with the industry. They come to us with problems and we will involve students to work on it as research team.
“Now we have a space where someone from industry can come and sit down instead of us going there. The activity is more formalized. (Businesses) are excited to see the space too,” she added.
She said Wilson’s donation is a big recognition of the excellent work KPU students have done in the design industry.
“We hope we will make this a hot spot of the design industry, a centre of excellence. We are already getting there.”
