CAMPUS NEWSNew immersive technology lab brings virtual and augmented reality to University of Niagara Falls Canada campus
Newly expanded campus space includes VR Lab, high-tech classrooms, and modernized office and meeting spaces
Students at the University of Niagara Falls Canada now have access to a state-of-the-art learning environment designed to bring their coursework to life. The university officially opened its new VR Lab, a multipurpose, high-tech space dedicated to virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) learning.
The lab is the centrepiece of a newly completed 10,837-square-foot expansion on the fourth floor, which also includes modernized office and meeting spaces, upgraded high-tech classrooms, and a dedicated IT support desk to serve students, faculty, and staff.
Wednesday’s opening celebration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Jim Diodati from the City of Niagara Falls in attendance. Coinciding with the start of Summer Term, the event provided the UNF community an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the new space.
“This investment reflects a broader commitment to preparing our students for careers at the intersection of technology, media, and biosciences,” said David Gray, President and Vice-Chancellor at UNF. “We’re also grateful to the City of Niagara Falls for their support throughout the planning process. Their collaboration helped bring this expansion to life, and we’re thankful for their continued partnership with UNF.”
Unlike a traditional lecture hall, the VR Lab is built for hands-on experimentation. The flexible room can be reconfigured to support individual VR stations, small group AR projects, or full classroom demonstrations, giving the instructors the freedom to design learning experiences that would be impossible with conventional tools, like in-depth anatomy exercises for students in biosciences programs.
“This space allows our students to move beyond studying immersive media as a concept and start creating it and testing it firsthand,” said Raquel Benitez Rojas, Associate Dean of the Master of Arts in Digital Media and Global Communications program. “That kind of hands-on fluency is exactly what today’s communications and media employers are looking for.”
The VR Lab is one piece of a broader fourth-floor expansion aimed at modernizing the student and faculty experience. Alongside the VR Lab, the newly renovated space features:
- Modern office and meeting areas designed to support collaboration among faculty, staff, and program partners
- High-tech classroom space equipped with state-of-the-art resources to enhance learning
- A dedicated IT support desk, giving students and instructors on-site access to technical support
The VR Lab is now available for course use, and the meeting areas are available for staff to book through the university’s online reserve system.
