Campus Centre Redevelopment project
Overview
SAIT is in the initial phase of a multi-year project to redevelop Campus Centre and is in market for design solutions.
The initial scope of the project is approx. four years and includes the construction of renewed facilities dedicated to promoting health and supporting student learning, community and wellness on campus.
The project supports SAIT’s commitment to excellence as outlined in New World. New Thinking., SAIT’s Strategic Plan 2020-25 and is aligned with the institution’s Campus Development Master Plan Framework. SAIT continues its integrated partnership and community engagement with the SAIT Students' Association (Saitsa) regarding Saitsa programming and services to be delivered in the new building.
We look forward to the future of Campus Centre and all its possibilities for our community here at SAIT.
Construction details and updates
Current project status:
Last update: March 15, 2023
😅 Temporary recreation facility opening soon The Campus Centre Redevelopment project is about to reach another milestone — the temporary recreation facility behind the East Hall residence building is scheduled to open Monday, April 3. The facility will be accessible to students and employees.
The Wellness Centre in Campus Centre will remain open through the end of March to accommodate the moving of equipment and people to the temporary facility. Services in the Wellness Centre will be limited to the gymnasium only starting Wednesday, March 15. Group fitness classes will continue in Auxiliary Gym B until the end of March. Check the schedule for updates on classes in April.
The facility is about 15,000 square feet or 1,394 square metres and features cardio machines, free weights, a fitness area and a full-size basketball court, which can also be used for badminton, volleyball, futsal and pickleball. Locker rooms are equipped with day lockers, showers and washrooms. Phone lockers are available at reception.
🏀 When the facility opens, temporary gym flooring (salvaged from the University of Alberta) will be in place. New flooring will be installed in the summer.
New building contract update The SAIT Campus Centre Redevelopment (CCR) project team has reached an important milestone. SAIT has selected a company who will assist the institution in obtaining agreements for the eventual architectural design and construction contracts for the new building on the Campus Centre site. The contract with this new partner will be finalized in the coming weeks and they will become part of the SAIT CCR project team. The CCR project team will then begin discussions with various important groups across campus for input on the design of the new building. Please check this page regularly for updates. We will keep the SAIT community informed as the project moves forward.
🚧 Crosswalk signal When using the covered CTrain pathway, make sure you activate the crosswalk signal before crossing the road to/from the Johnson-Cobbe Energy Centre. For your safety, stay alert and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Asbestos abatement and remediation projects underway Pre-demolition activities, including asbestos abatement and remediation, are in progress at Campus Centre. SAIT has well-established procedures for this type of work to ensure both abatement workers and the SAIT community are not exposed. Learn more in the FAQ below.
No CTrain access via the building There is no access to the CTrain station via Campus Centre — follow the detour to/from the platform.
🚧 Stay alert and stay safe There’s a lot going on in and around Campus Centre. Please pay attention to construction signage, follow instructions and use the detours — they’re in place for your safety.
The Campus Centre Redevelopment project includes the demolition of SAIT’s current Campus Centre and the construction of a new building on site.
Prior to demolition, the building must be decommissioned. The partial building closure starting Aug. 1 and the eventual full building closure will facilitate pre-demolition activities including decant (moving out of people and things), asbestos abatement and remediation, infrastructure salvage and decommissioning.
Health and safety will be prioritized throughout the project. Areas of work will follow all safety regulations. The building will be hoarded off in zones. All building systems will continue to be online — fire alarm, lighting, HVAC — for the duration of pre-demolition activities.
🚚 Closures and moves️
Please note the following service-specific closure dates and relocation information, as applicable.
Services in the Wellness Centre will be limited to the gymnasium only starting Wednesday, March 15. Use the east entrance by the soccer field to get to the Wellness Centre.
Trojans Athletics have secured alternate spaces to continue their programming.
Visit the eSports lounge in the Senator Burns building, NJ112.
Visit Athletics and Recreation administration in the Senator Burns building, NN121.
Visit the Saitsa Resource Centre in the Stan Grad Centre, MC107.
Visit the Odyssey in the Senator Burns building, NN120.
Live music events will be hosted by the Gateway Events team at venues throughout the city. The Gateway Food and Beverage team will transition into a community food truck.
CTrain access through Campus Centre is no longer available. The northwest end of the CTrain platform will remain open. Follow the detour to/from the platform. Although access to Campus Centre via the elevator will be unavailable after Aug. 1, 2022 an accessible route to and from the platform will be maintained. SAIT will work with the City of Calgary/Calgary Transit to notify transit users.
Room bookings for the Orpheus Theatre, Symposium Room and other event/meeting spaces in Campus Centre are unavailable.
The bike locker in front of The Gateway is no longer accessible due to exterior construction fencing/hoarding, but there are bike lockers in the P6 Parking Garage. Contact residence@sait.ca to rent a bike locker.
♻️ Sustainable decommissioning️
Did you know? Throughout the Campus Centre Redevelopment project, a holistic and sustainable building decommission strategy is being implemented. This includes a thorough assessment of building elements to determine what’s suitable for salvage, resale, donation and recycling.
The exterior and interior building bricks will go to a recycling facility to be prepped for reuse. Yard waste, mainly wood, will be chipped and recycled into other wood products. Tin and steel will be sent for recycling and melted down.
The project team has set a landfill diversion rate target of above 85% by weight.
FAQ
This FAQ will be updated throughout the project.
Campus Centre is at the end of its lifecycle. Major renovations to building infrastructure and repairs to maintain as-is will exceed 65% of existing building value.
Upgraded functionality is also necessary to support universal accessibility to health and wellness amenities, Saitsa operations and events, and to provide large gathering spaces for the SAIT community.
A new building project will maximize value and opportunity to best support a great student experience on campus.
Asbestos abatement consists of the safe removal of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) from a building. ACM are present throughout the Campus Centre in wallboard, flooring, insulation and mastics (adhesives used to bind and seal other building materials to each other). Abatement is a normal part of the decanting and demolition of buildings constructed before the 2000s, such as the Campus Centre.
Asbestos abatement risks and precautions
Asbestos becomes a risk when its fibres are released into the air. Exposure to asbestos is not a concern when ACM are undisturbed and maintained in good condition.
There are many precautions taken during asbestos abatement to ensure both workers and the larger SAIT community are not exposed. These precautions are required by Alberta Occupational Health and Safety legislation and include restricted access, containing the work area under negative pressure, personal protective equipment (PPE) to help protect abatement workers in the work area, waste cleanup requirements and rigorous air monitoring to ensure asbestos fibres remain within the work area. If air monitoring reveals fibres above background levels, SAIT’s Health, Safety and Environment Services will inform the SAIT community.
Several asbestos abatement projects are currently occurring within the Campus Centre, and one on the exterior of the building.
Managing abatement projects indoors
Asbestos abatements indoors are performed based on the requirements of Alberta Health and Safety legislation and those in the Alberta Asbestos Abatement Manual. Work areas are contained and under negative pressure, and are inspected multiple times per day for leaks in the containment. Air monitoring in areas adjacent to asbestos abatement containments is performed to detect any release of asbestos fibres.
Managing abatement projects outdoors
Abatement workers are scraping dried mastic from concrete block walls with non-powered hand tools on the exterior of Campus Centre. This project, under asbestos abatement regulations, is referred to as low-risk because the asbestos fibres are bound within the mastic layers and do not become airborne when pieces of that mastic are removed with hand tools. The workers themselves wear disposable coveralls and respirators so that pieces of mastic do not build up on their clothing and so they don’t unintentionally ingest the mastic. For the same reason, these work areas are fenced off to restrict access. As an added precaution, air monitoring is performed here periodically to ensure asbestos fibres are not released.
Learn more about asbestos management at SAIT and contact Health, Safety and Environment Services for more information.