Sod-turning held for new Sask. Polytechnic campus in Saskatoon

Article content

People can expect to see a few more flashes of Saskatchewan Polytechnic purple amid the traditional green, white and yellow palette of the University of Saskatchewan campus in the coming weeks, months and years.

A sod-turning ceremony was held on Monday for what will become the new Sask. Polytechnic central campus in Saskatoon, located at Innovation Place on the U of S campus near the intersection of Preston Avenue and Research Drive.

Article content

The new campus is to be named for Joseph A. Remai, who previously made a $25 million donation toward the project.

In remarks before the ceremony, Sask. Poly president and CEO Larry Rosia heralded the new campus as “a new era” for the college, and the start of a unique partnership between a university, a polytechnic and a research and technology park.

This “innovation corridor” between the three institutions will create “seamless” opportunities for students to move between institutions as they pursue education and potentially seek to start businesses, Rosia said.

He noted the old, “linear” trajectory in which students moved from high school to postsecondary to the job market is being replaced with “multi-lane” pathways for student success. He noted some 30 per cent of Sask. Poly students arrive seeking to pair hands-on learning with a previous university credential, while many Sask. Poly grads also go on to take university degrees.

Along with opportunities for students to collaborate and potentially mix and match programming and courses, Rosia noted co-locating all three facilities could also come with opportunities to integrate some operations, noting food services as an example where the university and polytechnic could one day pool resources.

Article content

Article content

Monday’s sod-turning marked the start of work on the first phase of the new campus, which will include construction of a new building to house Sask. Poly’s skilled trades and technology programs.

Earthworks and utility preparation were to get underway at the site immediately, with further design and procurement work needed before construction is expected to begin in 2026.

Construction of a new health sciences building is to form the second phase of the project, while a new student services building will eventually complete the new campus.

Rosia said Sask. Polytechnic has raised about $60 million toward the $100 million goal it set in a capital campaign for the new campus.

The provincial government last year committed up to $200 million, and since 2022 has provided about $16 million in support of preliminary work.

Premier Scott Moe said the government views advanced education as a key way for Saskatchewan to harness future opportunities as the world increasingly looks for the food, fuel and fertilizer products produced here.

He noted ongoing cooperation between government, industry and philanthropic donors will be the path forward for getting all three phases of the new campus completed.

Article content

“This is the Saskatchewan way, where we all come together,” he said.

The Saskatoon Star Phoenix has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.

With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark thestarphoenix.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.

Article content