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Demolition work has been completed and crews are presently preparing a parcel of land at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) so sub-surface foundations and utilities can be installed for a new state-of-the-art Taylor Family Campus Centre that will feature world-class training facilities.

Upon completion in 2027, the 269,098-square-foot structure will feature a welcome centre, various health clinics, conference and event space, an arena, triple gymnasium, running track and fitness centre. The venue will also have a dedicated space where students and the community can gather.

The building has been designed with a focus on sustainability and universal accessibility and the goal is to operate with a reduced environmental footprint and minimize energy and resource consumption.

SAIT is targeting sustainability design certifications from the Canadian Green Building Council and LEED.

The facility will model themes derived from Indigenous knowledge and practices, such as shared communal spaces and culturally relevant offerings, as a critical step in SAIT’s path to reconciliation.

“The Taylor Family Campus Centre is considered the main hub of SAIT’s campus life,” says Tanya Tam, director of major capital projects at the school. “A new campus centre will be more than a recreational facility. It will serve as a community touchpoint that provides athletics and recreation, health and wellness services, culture and academic connection to industry through work integrated learning.”

To make way for the new build, crews demolished an existing campus centre that had been built in 1981 for a student population of approximately 8,000. With nearly 16,000 full-time equivalent learners at the school, and the structure in need of significant repairs, the school decided to build anew.

The new building is being built on the same site as the original structure, next to SAIT’s Cohos Commons Field.

“The previous campus centre building was at end of building lifecycle, and significant renovations/upgrades were required,” explains Tam. “Through various evaluations and a building condition assessment, the decision for redevelopment of Campus Centre was approved in 2021.”

The redevelopment began in 2022 with a sustainable building decommissioning and demolition strategy for the existing campus centre. An assessment of the building elements led to a sustainable salvage, resale, donation and recycling plan – allowing SAIT to achieve a significant waste diversion rate.

Working with partners at Green Standards, the project diverted 73 tons of material from landfills and contributed more than $95,000 of in-kind donations to support a variety of community organizations.

The previous building was demolished over an 18-month period, starting July 2022, says Tam. “Demolition waste was meticulously sorted for recycling to achieve 95-per-cent waste diversion from landfill.”

The design-build team for the project consists of Bird ��������ion Inc. as general, GEC Architecture providing design services and Altus Group doing project management.

In addition to a welcome centre, the structure will have a two-storey recreation facility and three-storey services facility. Renderings show a modern-looking building with clean lines and a large entranceway.

The exterior was inspired by SAIT’s logo. Elements of the design were chosen to complement the architecture. The integration of Indigenous knowledge and practices into the design is still in development.

The project will be challenging, as SAIT is a working campus, and the building site is near the main connection to a Calgary transit station and pedestrian access to the school. As well, there is a traffic intersection, Alberta University of the Arts building, and Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium nearby.

“There are full-time flaggers during business hours to monitor and facilitate safe circulation and access around site,” says Tam. “Close collaboration with Calgary Transit and the City of Calgary is also top priority.”

The school is putting out regular safety and construction updates, reminding students and visitors to watch for construction vehicles, follow directions from traffic flaggers and use designated crossings.

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held this past spring to mark the start of subsurface work. Elder Betty Crazyboy from the Piikani Nation led members of the SAIT community and partners in a traditional Blackfoot pipe ceremony to honour the Treaty 7 land, those working on the construction project and all who will enjoy the future space.

That was followed in May by a $30-million donation from Don and Ruth Taylor, who are well-known for their philanthropic support throughout Calgary.

SAIT has seen unprecedented growth and challenges lately with a changing demographic requiring additional supports mentally, physically and holistically.

“As a future cornerstone of campus life, the Taylor Family Campus Centre will support the next generation of SAIT students and establish a sense of community and belonging in space designed to forge new connections and strengthen old ones,” says SAIT president and CEO David Ross.

“The needs and expectations of our students continue to evolve and change. Our vision for the centre is to offer a dynamic on-campus environment all about enhancing the student experience through a whole-person approach to wellness.”