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By: Jenna Larkin
March 22, 2023
I recently highlighted some of the labs and facilities available to students in Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Architectural Science program in my TMU Places and Spaces: Architectural Science blog. There were some very cool spaces, and I only scratched the surface of what future TMU students can expect when it comes to using facilities throughout their university years. To keep the adventure going, here are three spaces that students in The Creative School can look forward to using while at TMU.
Red Bull Gaming Hub
Fun fact: you can get a can of Red Bull from the Red Bull Gaming Hub. You might also leave with the overwhelming urge to play Mario Kart, which is what happened to me.
Location: Rogers Communication Centre (RCC), 80 Gould Street.
Established: 2022
Programs and years with access: Undergraduate students who take courses related to the space such as RTA 928: Introduction to Game Design, typically in second year and above.
How is this facility used and what skills are learned here?
Dr. Kristopher Alexander, Director of the Red Bull Gaming Hub(external link, opens in new window) and Associate Professor in the RTA School of Media, explained that there are three core pillars of the Red Bull Gaming Hub: video game design, e-sports broadcasting and virtual production. The classes that take place in the space focus on hands-on, practical experiences to enable creativity, while also infusing theory. The space is used as a classroom from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then transforms into a training space for the TMU e-sports team. Geoffery Lachapelle, Manager of the Red Bull Gaming Hub, explained that the technology in this lab and the wider video game industry is now being used in many creative industries, including film, television and fashion.
What are some noteworthy projects that have come from this facility?
Besides classes and e-sports training, the space is being used for interdisciplinary research between video game technology and design and the architecture field, as well as the health and wellness field. The Hub is also being used for professional development when it comes to technology like Unreal Engine(external link, opens in new window).
The set-up of the Red-Bull Gaming Hub.
How does this facility help students prepare for their careers?
Dr. Alexander and Geoffery explained that there is “massive demand” for workers in the video game industry who are trained in these technologies. TMU is one of the only post-secondary educational institutions that offers training in the sector. Geoffrey explained that the Red Bull Gaming Hub gives students the opportunity to “train in a field that is in desperate need of them, and gives them real career prospects directly out of university.” They learn the theory of the industry in practice.
Design + Technology Lab
A peek at the equipment in the Design + Technology Lab.
Location: Daphne co*ckwell Complex (DCC), 288 Church Street.
Established: 2019
Programs and years with access: All programs in the Creative School, starting in first year.
How is this facility used and what skills are learned here?
Alda Escareño, Senior Creative Technologist at the Design + Technology Lab, said that the lab is “designed to connect creativity of digital fabrication technology with the equipment, but also the knowledge base of how to engage with it.” Students learn the software to control the equipment, but also how to make the most out of the outputs of what they create. Some classes have a curriculum and projects that let students engage with the lab. The lab also hosts workshops and open lab hours to work with other students who have an interest.
What are some noteworthy projects that have come from this facility?
There are a lot of fun projects that have come from this lab, including the “hello” sign pictured below, one of my favourite things I saw in the lab. Alda told me they created it by playing around with all the different techniques and programs in the lab, including virtual reality, computer numerical control (CNC), laser cutters and robotic arms that they used to spin the piece around. The Design + Technology Lab has completed projectsranging from robotics work to CNC projects and textile production.
The “hello” sign I loved so much during my trip to the Design + Technology Lab.
How does this facility help students prepare for their careers?
Alda explained that the Design + Technology Lab can help students by providing practical opportunities to get hands-on experiences with different equipment and softwares and develop many hard skills. Students get the opportunity to think through their projects from start to finish and the connection between digital designs and physical outputs.
The Innovation Studio
A desk in the Transmedia Zone in The Innovation Studio.
Location: Creative Innovation Studio (CIS), 110 Bond Street
Established: 2019
Programs and years with access: Undergraduate students across all programs from their first year and onwards.
How is this facility used and what skills are learned here?
The Innovation Studio is home to three creative zones: the Fashion Zone, the Design Fabrication Zone and the Transmedia Zone, which also houses the Music Den. Erin Kjaer, Operations and Programs Manager of The Innovation Studio, said that the space gives “students, alumni and other members of the greater creative community opportunities to work through their creative problems and grow their businesses, but to also have a creative space to work in.” Students can attend events and workshops at the studio and find work opportunities, but they can also develop their own projects in the zones. Ashley Lewis, Manager of the Design Fabrication Zone, says that The Innovation Studio “is a really great place for people who are pursuing a relevant major to the zones and incubators here, but also for people who can’t explore those things inside their program.”
The Design Fabrication Zone at The Innovation Studio.
What are some noteworthy projects that have come from this facility?
There have been many projects that came through the three zones housed in The Innovation Studio, including Knix(external link, opens in new window) and Inkbox(external link, opens in new window) from the Fashion Zone. A more recent project was a brand that creates clothing that has Braille on it called Aille Design(external link, opens in new window). There have also been films from the Transmedia Zone, including the documentary A Bittersweet Becoming(opens in new window). A variety of projects have been able to find grants and funding through The Innovation Studio.
How does this facility help students prepare for their careers?
The Innovation Studio is able to provide opportunities for people outside of majority-identifying groups and focus on students across different communities and social intersections. They teach students how to be a successful entrepreneur in their industry. In terms of soft skills, students are also trained in networking and how to feel confident about their knowledge.
The Fashion Zone at The Innovation Studio.
I love how these facilities have the ability to appeal to so many different, creative disciplines! If you’re still curious about other TMU places and spaces that you may get to use throughout your university years, keep an eye on the blog!
Until next time,
Jenna
