University unveils design for a revitalized College Building

News Release Release Date: March 15, 2017 12:30 p.m.

Today the University released the approved design of the revitalized College Building as part of the College Avenue Campus (CAC) Renewal Project.

To download a flyover video of the approved design that can be edited and used for broadcast, click on the following link: http://bit.ly/2nkCBxd.

“We are thrilled with the approved design which will help us save the College Avenue Campus for the thousands of children, adults and seniors who benefit from its programming each year,” said Dr. Vianne Timmons, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Regina. “Today’s public design release is another step moving forward on our promise to revitalize our historic campus while preserving its heritage.”

The construction phase for the College Building at College Avenue Campus began in September 2016. It is a $60 million project that includes a $27.6 million contribution from the Government of Canada’s Strategic Investment Fund and involves renovations to the College Building, Tower Building and the Conservatory façade. An innovative concurrent design and construction process has enabled construction to commence prior to finalization of design, allowing the University to meet the timeline requirements for the project.

“A major goal of the design process was to rigorously examine the historic context of the site and understand its importance in the collective memory of the City” said James Youck, lead architect, P3A. “The result is a clearly contemporary design that draws on the historic buildings, reflects the importance of the park and will create a campus that is an educational and cultural hub for our city.”

The new design:

• Preserves the existing heritage architecture of the College Building;
• Adds a new structure on the west of the College Building to replace the space lost as a result of the demolition of the Conservatory and Gallery Buildings; and
• Adds a new structure on the east of the College Building that will help improve safety, access and service to the College Avenue Campus by adding fire exit stairs, washrooms, as well as providing a space for mechanical and electrical utilities.

Additional details about the new design of the College Building are available at www.uregina.ca/giving.

BACKGROUNDER
Home to the University’s Centre for Continuing Education, including the Lifelong Learning Centre and the Conservatory of Performing Arts, each year CAC serves approximately 8,000 learners. CAC also hosts dozens of community and cultural events every year. These activities contribute $18 million in gross domestic product (GDP) annually to the Saskatchewan economy and support nearly 500 full- and part-time jobs.  Additionally, the CAC Renewal Project is expected to generate nearly 400 jobs during the construction phase and have a GDP impact of more than $40 million during the development phase. 

Announced in 2011, the College Avenue Campus Renewal Project is the University’s priority capital fundraising project. It is aimed at restoring and preserving the historic CAC, enabling it to continue as an economic, educational and cultural hub for the city of Regina.