Mining company Teck has made a $5-million donation to BCIT to support the campus’ redevelopment – with a particular emphasis on the use of antimicrobial copper.
The contribution includes $1.4 million in capital funding for the health sciences centre, including installations of antimicrobial copper, and $3.6 million for the trades and technology complex.
The $220-million complex is expected to build capacity for 700 new full-time students.
Antimicrobial copper is used to limit the spread of infection from communicable diseases, with the ability to kill up to 99.9 per cent of bacteria within two hours, according to a press release. It’s installed in “high-touch, high-traffic locations.”
TransLink has been testing the use of the copper coating on its fleet since 2020.
“New facilities like the Health Sciences Centre and Trades and Technology Complex will help BCIT to equip students with the skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Don Lindsay, Teck’s executive vice-chair in a news release. “We are proud to make this contribution to the BCIT Inspire Campaign to facilitate expanded training for a new generation of healthcare and trades professionals.”
Almost 1,600 surfaces across the BCIT Burnaby campus have already been outfitted with the Canadian-made “Copper Clean” product through Teck’s copper and health program, with plans to outfit more of the college’s other campuses.
Teck’s donation is the second-largest contribution to BCIT’s Inspire campaign, after Concert Properties donated $7.5 million earlier this year for the school’s trades complex.
