Student Engagement

The Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion (CMLP) is a landmark facility, contributing to the best student experience at Western University.

Students, faculty, staff and visitors benefit from beautiful public spaces, such as the Richard Dillon Atrium and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation BioDynamic Garden.

The CMLP also houses state-of-the-art laboratories; project design rooms; a student lounge; machine shop; offices; and conference rooms.

Students use these spaces to meet formally and informally to collaborate on new ideas and hands-on design projects.

Student clubs, groups and teams, such as Aero Design; Baja SAE; Concrete Canoe and Concrete Toboggan; Formula SAE; SunStang; WE Bots; and Women In Engineering, use the space regularly to work on team projects and priority initiatives.

In addition to providing a home for student activities, the CMLP is also an eco-lab – a living laboratory where students are able to explore the latest in environmental technologies as they apply to building development and operations.

Eco-lab Project

  • From the early stages of the CMLP planning process, Western Engineering students were engaged as part of their curriculum to conceptualize and develop viable green buildings. Their ideas helped inform the design of the CMLP.
  • Sensors and monitoring equipment have been installed in the facility so students can measure dynamic forces happening within the structure. For example, sensors embedded in the walls and glazed coatings of windows will allow students to measure internal temperature, moisture and humidity.
  • Light fixtures and window design and construction will provide students with lessons on high efficiency lighting and insulation techniques. Water usage, wastewater flow and water quality, or its components, can be tracked.
  • The green roof is enabling studies on how these roofs reduce energy consumption.