U of S unveils building plan for campus
Posted July 02, 2003
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Wednesday, July 2nd, 2003 2003-07-01-OTHER
U of S unveils building plan for campus
Today the University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors approved a Core Area
Master Plan for the physical development of the university over the next 25
to 50 years which will guide the expansion of teaching, learning and
research facilities, parking, housing, public spaces and municipal and
utilities infrastructure.
Campus planning and development timelines will be determined by the
University's strategic directions and will follow sustainable development
guidelines balancing social, economic and environmental directives.
The master plan will allow the University to re-establish its original
connections to the South Saskatchewan River and to strengthen connections
between the core campus and outlying areas including the emerging north
campus area and CLS facility, Innovation Place, McEown Park and surrounding
communities.
Board approval comes after two years of extensive consultation with groups
both on and off campus and is in response to a need for a sustainable and
integrated approach to enriching the physical environment of the campus.
"The quality of the physical development of the campus will convey a sense
of place and a sense of space and will reflect the unique attributes and
character of our community," said Associate Vice-President Facilities
Management Paul Becker who is leading the project. "The vision for the
campus places equal weight on the quality of outdoor spaces as it does on
architectural character, with the objective of enriching the physical
environment by creating a safe, active and beautiful campus that projects an
image befitting the University."
"The master plan is designed to support the strategic directions of the
University and its stewardship responsibility to protect and enrich an
amazing public asset."
Highlights of the plan include:
- Strengthening the University's research focus through expanded facilities;
- Strengthening links between Innovation Place, CLS and other research users
and the core campus areas;
- Expansion of Innovation Place;
- New building space accommodating a 35 per cent increase in student
enrolment;
- A First Nations Centre;
- Expanded and renewed athletic and wellness facilities to respond to both
University, community and provincial needs;
- Providing on-campus housing options for international students and
researchers;
- Development of Preston Avenue as a principal gateway to the university and
development of a specialized gateway at the Wiggins/Campus Drive entrance;
- Three new parking garages on the perimeter of campus to help reduce
traffic within the central core of the campus;
- Additional student housing through the creation of a U of S neighbourhood
at McEown Park providing an additional 2,000 beds complemented by supporting
services including daycare, outdoor areas for children and retail
operations.
The Core Area Master Plan initiative was led by the University of
Saskatchewan's Facilities Management Department supported by a team of
in-house and external planners, urban designers, architects, engineers and
landscape architects to develop the plan. The team employed the firm Brook
McIlroy Planning and Urban Design from Ontario.
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For further information, contact:
Colin Tennent
Director and University Architect
Architectural and Engineering Services
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-4537
Bryan Bilokreli
Associate Director Space Planning
Planning and Development
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-4878
Website: www.facilities.usask.ca/masterplan/default.php
