New $35M health facility for Kitchener

KITCHENER-WATERLOO, Ont. – The University of Waterloo is planning to build a new facility in Kitchener that would focus on the incubation of medical technology companies, deep science technology and multi-disciplinary research.

The costs associated with development of the proposed building – a 90,000 square foot innovation health facility – are estimated to be $35 million. According to the proposal, the facility is to be built in partnership with the city.

It will focus on health innovation, medical technology and deep science on the UW Health Sciences campus, located in Kitchener’s downtown innovation district.

The proposed facility would include:

• Refurbishment of a 90,000 square foot vacant warehouse already owned by UW on the Health Sciences Campus;
• New home for the UW’s Velocity program, one of Canada’s most productive incubators, expanding from its current size of 36,000 square feet;
• Multi-use biosafety, clinical, instrumentation, product development and wet lab space for small and medium-sized enterprises, entrepreneurs and innovators;
• Co-location with Waterloo Region Small Business Centre to support health-related companies grow their business; and
• Co-location with various health-related, interdisciplinary research from UW’s main campus.

With a focus of technology and innovation-based solutions to health challenges, the proposed facility would be unlike any in Canada, according to the proposal.

Staff proposed the city would provide a contribution of up to $8.5 million or 25 percent of the capital costs.

It is anticipated that the balance of the capital costs would be shared by the university, and senior levels of government.

As part of the partnership, UW would lease 5,000 square feet of space to the city for $1 for use by the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre.