HAMILTON, ON – McMaster University’s Faculty of Engineering is transforming space in the John Hodgins Engineering Building into new automotive engineering technology laboratories, creating a dedicated environment for experiential learning on the university’s main campus.
Scheduled to open for classes in September 2027, the approximately 2,000-square-foot automotive workshop will provide students with opportunities to apply engineering principles through hands-on work with vehicles, engines and specialized testing equipment.
The project will relocate laboratory activities for McMaster’s Automotive and Vehicle Engineering Technology program, part of the W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology, from the McMaster Automotive Resource Centre (MARC) at McMaster Innovation Park.
“Engineering is learned by doing. Whether students are testing an engine, troubleshooting a mechanical system or applying classroom theory to a real-world problem, hands-on experiences are essential to developing the skills and confidence they need to succeed,” says Heather Sheardown, Dean of McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering. “These new facilities reflect our commitment to providing students with practical, industry-relevant learning opportunities that prepare them to tackle complex engineering challenges.”
The renovation will transform existing machine shop space into a modern teaching environment, featuring vehicle service bays with hoists, an engine dynamometer for performance testing, engine workstations and dedicated areas for instruction and collaborative learning.
Plans also include improved ventilation and safety systems, accessible entry to the laboratory and interior viewing windows that will allow students and visitors to observe learning activities.
For Mike Justason, Director of the W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology, bringing the automotive labs to the John Hodgins Engineering Building represents an opportunity to strengthen students’ connection to the broader engineering community.
“The John Hodgins Engineering Building is at the heart of engineering at McMaster. Bringing our automotive labs into this space means giving students more opportunities to connect with their peers, faculty, and the activities happening across campus,” says Justason. “It’s an important step in creating a more connected experience for our Automotive students while preserving the practical, hands-on learning that defines our programs.”
The Automotive and Vehicle Engineering Technology program combines engineering fundamentals, automotive technology, business education and mandatory co-operative work experience. Students study vehicle design, manufacturing and operation, including advanced propulsion technologies, hybrid powertrains and alternative fuel vehicles.
The laboratory relocation follows the announcement of a partnership between McMaster and the National Research Council of Canada to establish the Southern Ontario Innovation Hub at MARC. The new hub will bring together researchers, industry partners and government expertise to accelerate innovation in electric and intelligent mobility.
As the university prepares for the move, automotive courses scheduled for winter 2027 will be accommodated in existing laboratories and classrooms in the Engineering Technology Building and John Hodgins Engineering Building. The program’s laboratory activities will move directly into the renovated facilities for the fall 2027 term.