Schulich complex’s facelift funded

By Annalise Klingbeil

The University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering may soon look different thanks to a government infusion of $23.4 million that will be used to upgrade the complex.

The money — $9 million from the federal government and $14.4 million from the Alberta government — will go towards a range of improvements.

“Part of it is to upgrade some classrooms and teaching spaces in the school,” said Schulich School of Engineering Dean Dr. Elizabeth Cannon.

“Some of it will be used to bring the buildings up to current building codes.”

Certain buildings in the faculty are more than 40 years old and need a range of improvements to meet modern standards.

Manmeet Bhullar, MLA for Calgary-Montrose and parliamentary assistant to the minister of advanced education and technology, was joined by U of C president Harvey Weingarten and MP and Environment Minister Jim Prentice for the funding announcement Aug. 12.

The announcement is important for many reasons, Bhullar told the Gauntlet.

“This funding enhances the goals shared by the federal government and the government of Alberta in building a knowledge-based economy for future generations,” he said.

Bhullar explained the funding is an important investment for the province both short and long term.

“It is important to invest in institutions like the University of Calgary not only to strengthen our post-secondary education system, but to provide short-term local employment to keep Albertans working.”

The money is the first step in a long-term plan to expand the Schulich School of Engineering.

“Space and infrastructure is our highest need as a faculty and this funding effectively covers off the first phase of the three phase project,” said Cannon.

The remaining two phases include improvements to student spaces and additions to the Engineering buildings.

While construction and improvements to Schulich have yet to begin, Cannon said planning for how the money will be best spent is in the works.

Cannon said she believes the infusion of money will mean better classrooms and teaching spaces for students and kicks off a longer term project that will eventually transform the complex.