Durham College (DC) celebrated the grand opening of two new modern and collaborative learning spaces – PROTO and an Electrical Vehicle (EV) Lab – on Wednesday.

Together, these new state-of-the-art spaces span 9,060 sq. ft inside DC’s Whitby campus’ main building. PROTO provides clients, industry partners, student engineers and skilled trades faculty members and students an opportunity to collaborate and develop creative solutions and prototypes to address industry challenges. The EV Lab – which makes DC one of only a few Ontario colleges with a dedicated EV learning space – equips students with the specialized skills required in the evolving automotive industry. 

“PROTO and the EV Lab are propelling Durham College forward as a leader in innovation and transformative education,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College.  “The opening of these new spaces further demonstrates our commitment to driving change, generating big ideas and continuously adapting to meet the needs of our evolving industries.”

DC’s Whitby campus has developed exponentially over the past 30 years, becoming a skilled trades and automotive industry hub driven by student and faculty collaboration and partnerships with the local community.

“Our government is proud to support Durham College’s cutting-edge electric vehicle lab and PROTO, which will equip students with the hands-on experience and skills they need to secure in-demand jobs in the automotive industry,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “Through collaboration with companies to solve real-world problems, students will be prepared for the workforce when they graduate, while at the same time strengthening our province’s position as a global leader in the manufacturing of electric vehicles and their batteries.”

With new spaces like PROTO and the EV Lab, students will gain unique opportunities through hands-on learning to enhance their expertise, strengthen their employability and help form meaningful connections with industry and community partners.

“Adapting and growing with industry demands and educating students just like me on the newest technologies and industry practices is what Durham College is known for,” said Electrical Techniques graduate and Canerector Scholar, Kathryn Fullerton, who spoke at the grand opening. “These new spaces will prepare students for the workforce and ensure they have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful.”