Schneider Electric and Ryerson team up to create new lab at frontier of energy efficiency

Ryerson University and Schneider Electric recently  (PDF file) announced the Smart Building Analytics Living Lab (opens in new window) .

As part of the Centre for Urban Energy (CUE), the new lab will advance efforts to improve the efficiency of new and existing buildings and infrastructure in an increasingly digital and urbanized world.

“The Smart Building Analytics Living Lab will be a sandbox where students and professionals can push the envelope and embark on a new frontier of energy efficiency,” said Juan Macias, senior vice-president, digital energy solutions/prosumer, Schneider Electric.

Ryerson University president Mohamed Lachemi joined Macias, as well as Stephen Liss, vice-president, Research and Innovation, Tom Duever, dean, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Bala Venkatesh, academic director, Centre for Urban Energy, and other members of the Ryerson community and media to make the announcement.

“Seven years ago, CUE began as an idea at a university long known for finding solutions to pressing real-world challenges,” said president Lachemi, “and the leadership at Schneider has shared our vision for the Centre from day one. They are passionate about the exchange of ideas, and taking products from the lab into the field. Thanks to them, and all of our partners, the Centre has grown in size and scope, acquiring state-of-the-art equipment, testing new products, and more.”

The investment extends the partnership between Ryerson and Schneider Electric which began in 1986. In 2015, the company helped launch the Schneider Electric Smart Grid Laboratory at Ryerson, a collaborative facility where students, researchers, and practicing engineers can test and demonstrate ideas and products to modernize electricity delivery systems and engage customers in managing electricity usage. The new Smart Building Analytics Lab is slated to open in 2019 at 111 Bond Street.

“Through this lab, students will have the opportunity to do remarkably cutting-edge, advanced research, and form the next generation of highly-skilled personnel in the field,” said Jenn McArthur, assistant professor, Department of Architectural Science.

“A little over a year ago, we had a conversation around automation in buildings and the vision of creating a living lab to develop a crossroad between academia and business,” said Macias. “We are very excited to bring this project to life with Ryerson.”

“The convergence of information technology and operational technology means bringing together applications and devices in innovative ways, and tying together systems that have primarily operated in isolation,” added Susan Uthayakumar, country president, Canada, Schneider Electric. “Along with growth in numbers of devices and increased functionality, bringing these systems together introduces integration on a new scale. The Ryerson lab is a great forum to test these new integration possibilities.”