Building space for thinking outside: UBC Sauder breaks ground on new second home
The UBC Sauder School of Business invited friends, supporters and donors from the community to a groundbreaking ceremony marking the beginning of construction of the school’s new building and second home, the Powerhouse Project. The new space will not just accommodate a growing student population, it will also support evolving teaching styles by encouraging greater collaboration and experiential learning.
With over 100 guests gathered at the edge of the construction site, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement as the first shovels broke ground on UBC Sauder’s new building, the Powerhouse Project. The ceremony was more than a symbolic gesture—it was a celebration of the school’s rich history, its enduring relationships with alumni and the wider business community and the shared vision of UBC’s future to empower the next generation of leaders through collaboration and innovation.
“It’s amazing to see so many students, staff, faculty, alumni, donors and supporters come out to celebrate this exciting moment,” says Darren Dahl, Dean of the UBC Sauder School of Business. “Today signifies the start of something great. In our current facilities, we encourage students to think beyond conventional norms to create solutions that meet the needs of our society. Our new building will allow us to expand those efforts.”
Located on the site of the former UBC Power House utility, the 10-storey flagship building will blend flexible spaces with cutting-edge technology and support the school’s purposeful shift away from lecture-based learning towards an interactive and team-based approach.
Building on the school’s strengths
The new space will allow the school to build on its strengths, specifically in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship, finance, and climate.
Supporting innovation and entrepreneurship
There will be collision spaces where student entrepreneurs from across campus can work on projects and build ventures. A dedicated innovation and entrepreneurship floor will host regular workshops, seminars and accelerator programs like Creative Destruction Lab – Vancouver. Students will also gain practical experience making real investments in emerging ventures.
“We anticipate being a convener of students and faculties from all across UBC, bringing together complementary-skilled individuals for the purpose of building massively scalable startups that solve some of society’s most complex challenges,” says Darrell Kopke, Executive Director of CDL-Vancouver and Lecturer in the Entrepreneurship, Sustainability and Innovation Group at UBC Sauder. “We’re also going to host more networking events, lunch-and-learns, founder meetups, pitch competitions and scale-up programs. I’m excited for our students and the impact they will have in Canada’s startup community.”
Teaching finance through hands-on learning
Students interested in finance will enjoy new spaces that support experiential learning, as well as professional networking events. The finance floor will be outfitted with a 60-seat research and trading lab for market simulations and real-time research and become the new home of the Portfolio Management Foundation (PMF) program and Sauder Women in Finance Training (SWIFT) program.
“UBC Sauder is expanding academic and co-curricular programming in recognition of the evolving role of finance in society. That requires not just intellectual capital but also physical space,” says Pennie George, Managing Director of the Portfolio Management Foundation program and Adjunct Professor in the Finance Division. “Our new building will allow us to better prepare students to be skilled financiers. There will be a trading and research computer lab for research-supported problem-solving, market simulations and case competitions.”
Leading climate solutions
UBC Sauder’s Centre for Climate and Business Solutions (CCBS) will offer climate-focused business courses, programming and projects in the new space. Students will pursue their passion for sustainability and gain hands-on experience working in a technology-rich climate lab. They will also partner with companies and industry experts to design and scale solutions for a climate-positive future.
“At UBC Sauder, we recognize the pivotal role business must play in addressing the climate crisis,” says Kookai Chaimahawong, CCBS’s Executive Director. “Climate action is inherently interdisciplinary, demanding bold collaboration between business, science and other critical fields. Our new space will be a dynamic hub where innovative ideas are transformed into real-world solutions, driving measurable impact. It will also be a place for emerging climate leaders to develop their skills, discover their purpose, and find their unique roles in solving the most urgent global challenges.”
Exemplifying inclusion and a commitment to reconciliation
The Powerhouse Project is creating an opportunity for UBC Sauder to strengthen connections with Indigenous communities. A new Indigenous Business Centre will support the school’s Ch’nook Scholars, Aboriginal Management Program and Accelerated Business Program and become a launchpad for future Indigenous programs across the school.
“The new Indigenous Business Education Centre at UBC Sauder School of Business will be a home away from home’ for Indigenous students in the coming years and into the future. The centre will have Indigenous design elements that speak to the rich history of the Coast Salish Peoples, specifically the Musqueam Nation and neighboring Indigenous communities in the Vancouver area. Highlighting the diverse Indigenous cultures across Canada, the space will inspire and empower Indigenous learners studying business here,” says Dennis Thomas-Whonoak, Executive Director of Indigenous Business Initiatives & Engagements. “Increasing Indigenous students and building strong business leaders is paramount. Reconciliation will not be achieved without vibrant Indigenous economies and through this centre, we will develop the next generation of Indigenous leaders”.
Building on a legacy
The groundbreaking of the Powerhouse Project signifies more than just the start of construction—it marks a pivotal moment in the future of UBC Sauder. This new building will become a hub for innovation, fostering collaboration and equipping students with the skills to drive meaningful change in business and beyond. As part of UBC’s larger FORWARD campaign, the project reflects UBC Sauder’s commitment to help solve the world’s most complex problems. It’s an exciting chapter in the school’s ongoing evolution, with opportunities for the community to stay connected, get involved and follow along as this vision comes to life.