Amid a flurry of sparks as an acetylene torch burned through a specially-fashioned metal ribbon, Lethbridge College’s new Trades, Technologies and Innovation Facility officially opened with an on-campus celebration on Wednesday afternoon.
The new facility completes the largest construction project in the college’s history, a three-and-a-half year endeavor that has created the largest trades training facility south of Calgary. The completed building, which includes the first phase that opened in September 2015, measures 168,812 square feet, cost $77 million and provides state-of-the-art training opportunities for students in a variety of skilled trades and technologies programming.
“This grand opening is the culmination of a lot of planning, foresight and effort by many groups to fill a need in southern Alberta that will positively affect our college and the local economy for generations to come,” says Dr. Paula Burns, Lethbridge College President and CEO. “The building itself is beautiful and has already become a showcase piece on campus, but the practical applications and technological benefits that it will provide to students is the most exciting part of this project.”
The college broke ground in October 2015 on the second phase of the facility, which houses students in the Wind Turbine Technician, Electrician Apprenticeship Training, Welder Apprenticeship Training, Plumber Apprenticeship Training, Engineering Design and Drafting, and Interior Design Technology programs. The first students moved into the facility in late August after a concerted effort by Lethbridge College’s Facilities Management department, college faculty and staff, and construction management company Stuart Olson to complete the project on time and on budget.
Financing for the project came from the Province of Alberta, internal college funding and contributions from the Possibilities are Endless campaign, which raised $27.8 million for college projects, including the new Trades, Technologies and Innovation Facility.
“We are so thankful for the many partners who contributed to this facility through our very successful capital campaign,” says Burns. “You’ll notice that many of the classrooms, labs and workshops carry the names of our partners. This is not only a thank you to them for their donations, but also a commitment to continue to build on those partnerships to create opportunities for our students that will positively benefit all of us.”
The building is on pace to receive a high LEED certification for its environmentally-friendly construction.
Diamond Schmitt Architects, in association with Sahuri + Partners, designed the facility and Stuart Olson oversaw the construction. Scores of Lethbridge College alumni worked for these companies as well as the dozens of local contractors and trades involved with the project since its ground-breaking in April 2014. The design of the building features elements of wood, concrete and glass to create a natural atmosphere with plenty of natural light.
The facility will also house a 7,000-square-foot innovation space, expected to be completed by spring 2018, made possible by $6.44 million in funding from the federal Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund.
Read reaction from Lethbridge College’s partners
Read the Trades, Technologies and Innovation Facility fact sheet
Speakers:
Dr. Paula Burns - Lethbridge College President and CEO
Michael Leckman - Principal, Diamond Schmitt Architects