January 26, 2024

London, ON – The Innovation Village at Fanshawe College is a 95,000 square-foot physical and virtual hub at the heart of the College’s London Campus. 

The building, designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, focuses on sustainability, incorporates Indigenous-inspired design elements, and provides a variety of spaces that foster hands-on learning, creative problem solving, experimentation with technology, and collaboration among students, employees, and industry. 

Some of the spaces in the new facility include: the Library Learning Commons, which features the Kalihwíy̲o̲ Circle, a focal point for Indigenous students and communities to engage in research and social entrepreneurship to prepare them with creative exploration and complex problem-solving they need for the future; the Diane Blake Centre of Excellence in XR, a lab focused on integrating extended reality (XR) in education; the Canada Life Village Square, an important presentation and event space; and Forwell Hall, a concert, events and conference space for the Fanshawe Student Union with additional student retail spaces.

An innovative custom façade of building integrated photovoltaic cladding forms a weaving pattern that gives the Innovation Village its distinctive appearance, while also producing on-site renewable energy to power it.

“The grand opening of this state-of-the-art facility represents London’s commitment to innovation, education, and collaboration. As we witness the coming together of students and industry in creative spaces, we celebrate a future where talent is nurtured, ideas flourish, and our city thrives. I’m incredibly excited to see the greatness that is sure to come out of the Innovation Village,” says Josh Morgan, Mayor of London.

Construction on the facility began in 2020, and its opening marks an important milestone in Fanshawe’s commitment to innovation in education and collaboration with industry partners.

Read the full press release here.