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A lighter 3D-printed mace will allow more members of the university community to serve as mace bearer while preserving the symbolism of one of SFU's most distinctive ceremonial traditions.

For more than 60 years, carrying �鶹��Ƶ's ceremonial mace has been one of the institution's most prominent roles during convocation, when graduating students receive their degrees, diplomas, and certificates.

Yet the role came with a challenge. Weighing 23 pounds and heavily weighted at the top, the historic mace could be difficult to carry through the lengthy procession, which includes multiple flights of stairs and a ceremonial walk into Convocation Mall. The physical demands significantly limited who could serve as mace bearer.

Now, a new 3D-printed replica weighing less than half as much is helping make one of SFU's most visible traditions more accessible while preserving its ceremonial significance.

“Leading the president and chancellor in such a significant ceremony is an honour that we wanted to be able to extend to anyone, regardless of gender, size or differences in physical ability,” says Sue Porter, who leads SFU's Ceremonies and Events team.

Preserving a symbol of the university

The original mace remains one of SFU's most distinctive symbols.

Carved from 200-year-old yew gathered on Burnaby Mountain, inset with polished jade from the Burnaby campus reflecting pond’s iconic boulder, and crowned by a silver stag's head, the mace symbolizes the university's authority to confer degrees. Commissioned by university architects Arthur Erickson and Geoffrey Massey and designed by Haida artist Bill Reid, it was presented at SFU's opening ceremonies on Sept. 9, 1965.

It has led convocation processions ever since. And while its symbolism has endured, its weight created a barrier to participation.

"Making a longstanding tradition more accessible allows us to preserve its significance while widening who can participate in it," says Naz Babaeipanah, director of strategic initiatives in the Office of the Vice-President, People, Equity and Inclusion. “It demonstrates that accessibility and inclusion can be part of how institutions evolve their traditions while honouring the meaning and history behind them."

Recreating an icon

Creating a lighter version of the mace required a blend of technology, artistry, and collaboration.

Consultation with Woo Soo Kim, professor at SFU’s School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering, connected Porter with a student who could digitally scan the mace and create the files needed for manufacturing.

For Kim, the replica represents more than a technical accomplishment.

"What excites me most is seeing how 3D printing can make thoughtful, lightweight design possible—putting technology in service of people and community," he says.

The process came with its share of challenges. The reflective silver stag that crowns the mace could not be accurately captured through scanning technology, requiring manufacturers to reconstruct the piece by hand using photographs of the original as reference.

While work on the replica proceeded, the original mace underwent cleaning and restoration to help preserve it for future generations.

Once printed in resin, the replica was carefully painted, reproducing the appearance of the original wood, jade, and silver finishes. The final assembly brought together numerous individual components fitted around a central metal support, a process Porter completed herself.

Carrying tradition forward

The completed replica closely resembles the original while weighing only 10 pounds.

Kim will be the first mace bearer to carry the new version during convocation ceremonies on Oct. 8, including the installation of SFU's next Chancellor, Elio Luongo.

When the procession enters Convocation Mall, the new mace will carry forward a tradition that has guided generations of �鶹��Ƶgraduates, demonstrating that preserving history and expanding opportunity can go hand in hand.