Studio X is excited to share the launch of the XR Pathways Across Borders project in partnership with Kirkland Lake District Composite School (KLDCS) in northern Ontario. The region’s first dedicated VR lab is now open inside the school’s Greenhouse makerspace.
This collaboration began when Mary Ann Mavrinac, Vice Provost and Andrew H. and Janet Dayton Neilly Dean Emeritus of the University of Rochester Libraries and Studio X namesake, identified an opportunity to bring Studio X’s pre-college XR curriculum to a rural Canadian high school. Thanks to generous startup funding from Mary Ann and Peter van Schie, with additional support from Agnico Eagle, the Greenhouse XR Lab is now equipped with headsets, high-performance workstations, and the tools students need to begin creating immersive content.
A central goal of the XR Pathways Across Borders project is to support students as they build their first VR projects and gain experience with interaction design, 3D creation, and the foundations of VR.
Two Studio X team members led the development of a new set of recorded trainings, learning guides, and asynchronous support materials:
- Fenway Powers '25, Associate XR Developer, designed the Unity and VR development pathway and created instructional content that introduces students to the core concepts required to build interactive VR scenes.
- Emmie Lin '26, Karp Library Fellow, guided the 3D design track by producing beginner-friendly Blender modules that help students progress from their first model to usable in-game assets.
Studio X also provided guidance on equipment purchasing, software installation, and lab setup to ensure a smooth launch for the new makerspace.
At KLDCS, the project is made possible through the leadership of Dan Kurz, Department Head of Math, Science, and Computer Studies, who is championing the effort and integrating XR learning into hands-on coursework within the Greenhouse.
- Explore the full training resources: Greenhouse XR Training Hub
- View the original Pre-College OER: Studio X Pre-College OER
Ongoing support continues daily through a dedicated Discord community where students post questions, share works in progress, and receive real-time guidance from Studio X staff and students.
This growing partnership shows how access, mentorship, and open educational resources can empower students, wherever they are, to engage with immersive technologies and creative problem-solving.
For additional coverage of the launch and its impact on the KLDCS community, see the recent Northern News article.
