NEW LIFE FOR CLASSIC U OF A STRUCTURE
The University of Alberta’s $249-million, six-year Dentistry and Pharmacy Building renovation project will not only give the university a new administrative hub, it will also help reduce its ballooning deferred maintenance bill and its carbon footprint, a
A GRAND OLD BUILDING
Designed by the university’s only professor of architecture, Cecil Burgess, the building’s construction was in part funded by a $500,000 grant from the Rockefeller Foundation in 1919.
Two years later, it opened as the Medical Building and housed the medical school, dentistry, nursing, chemistry, entomology and the university laboratories.
Over the years, the building was expanded, with blocks added in 1946, 1947, 1951 and 1958, at which point it was renamed the Health Sciences Building.
Its current name was bestowed in 1972.
SEEN BETTER DAYS
Since 2011, the building has been largely empty following the opening of the Edmonton Clinic Health Academy. Currently, it’s home to the university’s Emergency Operations Centre and two floors of the north wing are being used by Alberta Education as its exam marking centre.
Despite being a shell of its former self, university president David Turpin said Wednesday the building remains “one of the oldest and most iconic buildings on campus.”
“Ultimately, this renovation will serve to benefit of all the students here on campus. It will increase student service space and free up other space across campus that will be repurposed for student learning and research,” Turpin said.
FUNDING ARRANGEMENT
In last week’s provincial budget, the NDP government committed $149 million over four years in capital funding and, as the renovation and retrofitting process continues, the university will again look to the province for the remaining $100 million for the final two years.
The renewal project will see all of the university’s administrative processes — including student services, the dean of students’ office and registrar’s office — move under the one roof and will bring down the deferred maintenance price tag on the building by $78.7 million.
Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt said Wednesday the budget this year committed $154 million to address deferred maintenance at universities and college campuses across the province.
BIG BENEFITS
One of the big selling points of this project is the savings it will bring to the university and the environment. Vice-president of operations Andrew Sharman said initially the renovation project is targeting a 20-per-cent reduction in energy consumption, but it could be more, depending on the final plans.
“The key for us here is to drive that carbon footprint down because again, it comes at a cost, not only to the environment but financially, so it’s in our best interests,” Sharman said.
Buildings previously slated for demolition, like the old administration building, will get a second look to see if they can be repurposed, Sharman said, in a move that could further reduce its deferred maintenance bill that is hovering around $950 million, he said.
ENERGY-SAVING PROJECT
Because the entire building will essentially be gutted, the university gets a chance to breathe new life into its historically important building. Sharman said improving energy consumption will be at the core of the project and will come, in part, by upgrading windows, roofing and the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems.
One of the biggest energysaving properties will be a free-standing atrium over the exposed central courtyard that will help reduce heating bills by reducing the number of brick walls exposed to the elements. Planning work began on the project back in 2012, aided by $3.5 million in Alberta government funding.