Building World-Class Research Space and Infrastructure

VPRI portfolio lead
Trevor Davis
Executive Director, Research Operations.

Faculty lead
Angela Brooks-Wilson
Dean, Faculty of Science

Challenge

World-class research facilities are key to the performance of world-class research. The availability of high-quality research space is currently an important limiting factor in our research growth. The availability of appropriate digital infrastructure is key to many research programs.

Action

Working with the provost, SFU Facilities Services and deans, we will prioritize existing research space for capital improvements. We will continue to work as part of the team advocating for additional buildings on our three campuses. Within a year, plans for research space upgrades will be created and some upgrade projects will be underway. The VPRI will work with the library, ITS and others to prioritize digital infrastructure needed to support researchers.

Project Goals

Each year the provincial government provides SFU with capital funding to maintain campus buildings. In recent years the amount from the province has been approximately $30M, and has required a match from SFU of approximately $10M to access. The resulting funds (roughly $40M per year in recent years) are prioritized and deployed to maintain our campuses. One of the roles of this project is to identify research spaces and buildings that need attention and to help the university create high-priority projects to address those issues within the annual capital budget.

Digital Infrastructure

1. Procurement to refresh Supercomputer Cedar resources

September 2025
The deployment of the Supercomputer, now known as ‘Fir’, is complete.
December 2024
A competitive procurement process was completed.
June 2024
Cedar Upgrades: $83M in funding secured from federal, provincial and private sources. Request for proposal (RFP) for the equipment has been closed and vendors are being evaluated.

December 2023
Work carried out throughout 2023 with federal and provincial funding partners. Significant progress but no formal funding announcement in 2023. Procurement has begun.

August 2023
SFU is working closely with federal and provincial governments to secure funding to replace Supercomputer Cedar

2. Support ITS in upgrading wifi and cellular coverage across SFU campuses

September 2025
Cellular service upgraded at South Sciences Buidling and planned for Water Tower.
June 2025
Wi-Fi coverage expanded: Library, Convocation Mall, Shrum Science Centre.
December 2024
Rogers will increase the number of rooftop cellular sites from 2 to 5. Upgrades will start this year and run through 2026.
November 2024
Wireless design completed for Convocation Mall and Burnaby Library 6th floor. Additional wifi access points will be installed at Burnaby Library 5th floor once Facilities Services renovations are complete.Networking and Wireless infrastructure are being installed as part of Facilities Services renovations
June 2024
Cellular upgrades: Agreement has been finalised with one provider to increase service primarily on the west side of campus. Upgrades will start soon and run through 2026. Work is in progress on agreements with other providers.
March 2024
Planning for wifi and cellular upgrades continues in partnership with the service providers.
December 2023
Procurement work has taken place to identify a new carrier. New cellular antennae locations are being considered. Planning has taken place to upgrade network cabling and to increase Wi-Fi coverage in poorly served areas. A funding request has been submitted.

3. Explore the addition of SFU-specific Cedar resources

October/November 2025
The Research Computing Group and IT Infrastructure Teams are working to deploy the older resources for SFU research computing. They expect to have systems available in spring 2026
September 2025
Determination made to repurpose Cedar resources as an SFU-only resource

Capital Infrastructure

1. Develop plans for upgrades to SHRUM Buildings

May 2025
Additional funding has been identified to increase the amount of repairs.
December 2024
Shrum intervention work continues – now in its third year. Work on roof membranes has significantly decreased the incidence of flooding in Shrum and other areas.
March 2024
The implementation timeline for deficiency upgrades for the next 3 years has been developed.
Fall 2023
Shrum Biology upgrades were identified as highest priority due to issues with health and human safety, overheating and potential leaks. $4.8M was allocated to projects that include wall, roofing, HVAC and emergency power upgrades. Several of the building system projects are underway or close to completion.
Summer 2023
Interior renewal plans for Shrum are still in the design phase, with plans to implement in years 2 and 3.

2. Develop a process for identifying additional lab deficiencies across campus and a process to rank them

October 2025
The process has been temporarily put on hold until additional funding is available. Work on Shrum is taking precedence.
April 2025
The evaluation process is ongoing.
Fall 2024
Associate Deans of Research for different Faculties have been consulted to discuss the evaluation process to identify lab deficiencies.
Index data to assist with evaluation has been gathered, and index modifications are being considered. Choice of next targets will be heavily influenced by funding.

3. Implement upgrades for key infrastructure deficiencies

Recent Projects

Wetlab swing space for SCB renewal - design ($2.4M)
Shrum roofing replacement (B and K) - starting Nov 2025 ($2M)
SCP Frisken lab renewal - design ($600k)
SCP Saltwater tank repair - construction
SCP Chiller replacement ($500k)
SCP Grad student lounge - complete
SCB Seismic assessment - done
SCK Coates Lab renovation ($500k)
SCP Jennewein Lab renovation ($1.4M)
SCK Mcintosh Lab renovation ($1.4M)
SCB 9000 HVAC and renewal ($3.5M)

October 2025
Modifications for wetlab swing space are being prepared for permits. The architect firm is being chosen for the Shrum Biology renewal design process.
August 2025
Swing space for Biological Sciences and Science Stores has been identified and planning is underway for required modifications.
June 2025
Feasibility study for the Shrum Biology renewal completed.
December 2024
Identification of swing space and planning for research continuity is underway. This is contingent on a commitment of government funding.
Fall 2023
Construction of multiple projects is underway. Planning has commenced for interior work in Biological Sciences. The three-year plan commits over $15 million to address concerns across the Shrum buildings.

August 2023
Planning has commenced for interior work for Biological Sciences.

August 2023
Construction of multiple projects are setting up or scheduled for fall 2023.

Summer 2023
SFU approved a capital plan including the Shrum Intervention Project. This 3-year project commits $13.4M to address concerns across Shrum Biology, Physics and BPK buildings. This is augmented by previously planned building envelope work, bringing the total investment over 3 years to $17.5M

4. Complete infrastructure for WearTech core facility

November 2025
Construction of the Burnaby facility is nearing completion. Launch date of the full Core Facility now officially December 5.
May 2025
Soft launch of the Surrey facilities located in CityCentre 2. Construction continues on the Burnaby testing facility.
April 2025
WearTech core facility is due to launch in late 2025. It includes facilities in Surrey and Burnaby

5. Launch modular core facility support

September 2025
Initial equipment official lauch is complete. Procedures are under development. Looking at a January 2026 launch of the support program.
Rationale
The prototype modular core facility is a service to be provided to labs who wish to make specific pieces of equipment available to other researchers or industry on a cost-recovery basis. Research Operations staff assist with logistics and billing.

6. Boatyard upgrades: Secure the boatyard and implement provision of services and security

October 2025
Paving work begins for of the boatyard and surrounding lot.
August 2025
Boatyard upgrades are complete. New fencing, gates, fence covering, lighting, and security wiring are in place. When additional funding has been secured, additional security hardware will be installed.
April 2025
By end of summer 2025, $200,000 worth of upgrades to the Boatyard will be completed.
Rationale
The construction of the CORIX biomass plant displaced the SFU boat storage facility. It was relocated to Parking Lot 5, a gravel lot on the western side of the residence complex. Renovations/upgrades are planned to make this facility the primary location of not only boats but other large field equipment, including research trailers proposed in several Innovation Fund projects. IPG funding was utilized to prime this work, and IF funding, if successful, will be used to provide additional security for the new equipment.
When complete, the compound will have power, water, additional lighting, motion-controlled sensors and CCTV, and enhanced security patrols.

7. SFU-owned boats: Complete review and update of registration and safety program for SFUowned boats

September 2025
All active SFU-owned vessels have successfully completed the requirements for the SVOP 'Blue Decal', indicating full compliance with Transport Canada regulations.
May 2025
Students and staff enrolled in additional courses.
November 2024
An initial set of student boat operators take an advanced 5 day open water course in Tofino.
September 2024
A review of legislation and best practises has determined that a) boating registration and safety oversight must be a centralized process, b) all boat operators should hold an SVOP certification, c) on-the-water training, in addition to the SVOP, should be considered mandatory for SFU vessels, d) all SFU vessels are to be enrolled in the Small Vessel Compliance Program.
Rationale
SFU's boating safety and registration programs and processes have not been updated since 2016.

8. Animal Care upgrades: Purchase and install new cage washing hardware

July 2025
Cage washing hardware purchased and installed.

Completed Goals

2024

Working with Facilities Services, advocate for new research spaces on our campuses, including the Life Sciences Building (Burnaby) and Medical School Building (Surrey)

The Life Sciences Building advocacy with the provincial government was not successful. Focus has shifted to renovations to existing spaces. The Medical School building is now the responsibility of a dedicated team within Facilities and the Medical School.

October 2025
The Government of BC announces the plans for the School of Medicine's facilites. A purpose-built building will be constructed within the Surrey Centre Campus, just north of the Central City Tower. The SoM will occupy eight floors of the new twelve story building, with an estimated cost of $520M

Simon Fraser University