Lassonde School of Engineering

Lassonde School of Engineering
Name	Lassonde School of Engineering
Established	2012
Type	Public
Parent	York University
Dean	Jianhong Wu
City	Toronto
Province	Ontario
Country	Canada
Campus	Urban

Lassonde School of Engineering. It is a faculty of York University in Toronto, Ontario, established in 2012 through a landmark donation from Pierre Lassonde. The school integrates engineering with science, entrepreneurship, and arts through its distinctive "Lassonde Renaissance Engineering" educational model. It operates from the state-of-the-art Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence on York's Keele Campus.

History

The school was formally launched in 2012 following a historic $25-million gift from mining executive and philanthropist Pierre Lassonde, chairman of the Franco-Nevada Corporation. This founding vision aimed to reimagine engineering education within a broader liberal arts context. Its development was closely tied to the expansion plans of York University and the growth of the Greater Toronto Area as a technology hub. The school admitted its first cohort of students in 2013 and moved into its iconic, award-winning home, the Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence, in 2015, a building made possible by a significant donation from Jeffrey Bergeron and Sandra Faire.

Academics

The school offers undergraduate degrees in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, software engineering, geomatics engineering, and space engineering, the latter being one of the first such programs in Canada. It also provides graduate programs through the Faculty of Graduate Studies at York University, including master's and doctoral degrees. A cornerstone of its pedagogy is the Lassonde Co-op Program, which provides extensive work-integrated learning opportunities with industry partners like IBM, General Motors, and Ontario Power Generation. The curriculum is designed around the "Lassonde Renaissance Engineering" philosophy, encouraging interdisciplinary study with the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.

Research

Research is organized into interdisciplinary clusters focusing on artificial intelligence, big data, cybersecurity, infrastructure resilience, renewable energy, and space exploration. The school houses the Lassonde Institute of Mining and the Centre for Innovation in Computing at Lassonde. Researchers collaborate extensively with institutions like the Canadian Space Agency, the National Research Council Canada, and the Vector Institute. Key research facilities include the Lassonde Hydrogeology Research Laboratory and the York University Observatory. Faculty are actively involved in major initiatives such as the Canadian Lunar Rover project and developing sustainable urban infrastructure through the City of Toronto.

Facilities

The primary home is the Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence, a futuristic building designed by the firm ZAS Architects that features open, flexible "sandbox" spaces instead of traditional lecture halls. The building also houses the Lassonde Entrepreneurship Centre and the Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology program. Specialized labs include the Lassonde Machine Shop, the Keele Street Structural Testing Laboratory, and the Satellite Design Laboratory. The school also utilizes the Sherman Health Science Research Centre and the York Research Tower for collaborative projects.

Student life

Students are represented by the Lassonde Student Government and participate in over 30 design teams and clubs, such as the York University Robotics Society, Lassonde Space Society, and the Formula SAE team. The annual Lassonde Pottery Club and Hack the North events are popular. The school fosters a strong startup culture through the Lassonde Founders program and the Startup School at YSpace, York's entrepreneurship hub. Many students live in the nearby Passy Crescent residences and engage with the broader community through events like the Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Notable people

Notable faculty include former dean Janusz Kacprzyk, a pioneer in computational intelligence, and John Moores, a principal investigator on NASA's Mars Science Laboratory. Distinguished alumni include technology entrepreneur Michael Katchen, co-founder of Wealthsimple. The school's advisory board includes leaders like Michele Romanow of Dragons' Den and Clearbanc. Honorary degree recipients and speakers have included astronaut Julie Payette and former Governor General of Canada David Johnston.

Category:York University Category:Engineering universities and colleges in Ontario Category:Educational institutions established in 2012 Category:Universities in Toronto