Safer, Healthier, More Cost Effective Homes

London, ON. May 5, 2005– The London International Airport and The University of Western Ontario announced today the beginning of a partnership to build The 3 Little Pigs facility in London, Ontario, Canada. Led by Western, the new $7 million project will be the first of its kind in the world and will allow researchers to simulate and study realistic damage to houses from wind, snow and rain – all within a controlled environment. The 3 Little Pigs will be located at the London International Airport’s new Skyway Industrial Park, which is a joint venture between the City of London and the airport to service and develop aviation and non-aviation property. “As we grow and develop, cooperation and partnerships with our community become vital to our success,” says Steve Baker, President of the London International Airport. “The University of Western Ontario is a significant player locally, nationally and internationally. We’re proud and excited to be the home of The 3 Little Pigs facility.” The facility, slated to open in spring 2006, will house full-scale homes and buildings for intensive study and eventual destruction. Researchers hope that their efforts, made possible by the new facility, will lead to the construction of safer, healthier, more cost-effective homes, and will also assist in the development of cost-effective methods to retrofit existing homes and reduce human error during construction. “A home is usually the single most important personal investment an individual will make, not just in North America but around the world,” says Mike Bartlett, Principal Investigator and Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor at Western. “Mike Bartlett is world-renowned for his work and he has assembled a tremendous team of accomplished researchers whose expertise will improve the construction of homes, the safety of those who build them and the safety and quality of life of those who live in them,” says Ted Hewitt, Vice-President (Research). The 3 Little Pigs facility will join the growing list of over forty businesses that call London International Airport “home”. Media Contacts: Douglas Keddy, Research Communications Coordinator, The University of Western Ontario, (519) 661-2111 ext. 87485 Steve Baker, President and CEO, London International Airport, (519) 452-4042