Page 5 - CambridgeLookingBackNeat

South in downtown Cambridge and now However, the college made an even
plays host to the rebranded SMART (Smart bigger investment in Cambridge when
Manufacturing and Advanced Recycling it transformed the former Erwin Hymer
Technologies) Centre which made the Group North America manufacturing plant
move from the Doon campus. It now into its state-of-the-art Skilled Trades
occupies 10,000 square feet of space in campus. The 250,000-square-foot building
the historic Grand Innovations building on Reuter Drive, the former home to the
for applied research with another 7,000 BlackBerry repair centre, was purchased
to 8,000 square feet used to house the by Conestoga College in 2019 at a cost of
centre’s fully operational recycling plant. $33.5 million with the aim to bring all its
“SMART Centre is all about engagement trade schools together under a single roof.
with industry and the ability for us, as “It’ll give us a chance to have one of the
subject matter experts in advanced most comprehensive and high-quality
manufacturing, recycling and digital trades facilies in the province,” Tibbits told The site will feature seven fields – four with
innovation, to engage with students and the Waterloo Record at the time. “This is a natural turf and three with synthetic turf
industry partners to help solve industry game-changer.” The campus opened in 2022 – as well as a 6,500-square-foot-service
challenges,” said Ignac Kolenko, Executive and features more than 150,000 square feet building. “Conestoga has a long and proven
Director of the SMART Centre, in a previous of shops and labs designed and equipped history of working with our municipal
Chamber interview. to meet the unique requirements of trades partners to address local economic, social
education and training. Additional phases and workforce needs,” said Tibbets.
for the 40 plus-acre property are currently “The college greatly appreciates our
underway. partnership with the City of Cambridge and
But the college’s commitment to education with leading Cambridge employers such
has also been matched by its ongoing as Toyota, ATS and Eclipse Automation as
commitment to the local community and well as with our many applied research
its $1.5 million partnership with the City partners and collaborators as we all
of Cambridge towards the creation of the work together to build a stronger, more
Fountain Street Soccer Complex is the prosperous community.”
perfect example.

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