An innovative partnership between the University of Calgary and the City of Calgary will see the move of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL) to Calgary’s urban district.

The city is investing up to $9 million to convert an underused office tower at 801 Seventh Ave. S.W. into active academic, teaching and research space. This expansion to UCalgary’s downtown campus will move SAPL students from main campus and the current City Building Design Lab into a 180,000-square-foot space.

“Through this first-of-its-kind investment, the University of Calgary will be able to further grow the local economy by educating the workforce of tomorrow,” said Dr. Ed McCauley, PhD, president and vice-chancellor, UCalgary. “This will create 1,200 new student spaces downtown, offering students a unique, real-world learning experience while freeing up 800 vital spaces on campus for in-demand programs. We are grateful to the City of Calgary for this important investment in post-secondary learning.”

This expansion to the university’s downtown campus for the new home for SAPL includes design studios, classrooms, research spaces, a robotic fabrication workshop, an exhibition gallery, and a community-facing design justice lab. The recently renovated building atrium will be regularly used by SAPL for public lectures and events focused on city building.

The move downtown provides a unique opportunity for architecture, planning and landscape students to apply their knowledge in a practical, hands-on urban setting.

“This relocation and expansion downtown will enrich the educational journey of our students, providing a dynamic urban context for learning within the fabric of the city,” said Dr. John Brown, PhD, SAPL dean. “Being immersed in the heart of the city is important because it provides more opportunities for our students and researchers to work with our professional community, the city, and others on collaborative projects.”