University of Calgary architecture school moving to downtown office tower

The University of Calgary is moving its School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape to a downtown office building.

An underused office tower in the downtown core will soon be transformed into an active academic campus for the University of Calgary.

The office-to-post-secondary conversion was announced on Friday.

The building, located at 801 Seventh Ave. S.W., will be transformed into the new home for the U of C’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL).

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The 180,000-square-foot facility will include not only classrooms, but design studios, research spaces and a robotic fabrication workshop.

“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,” explained U of C president and vie-chancellor Ed McCauley in a Friday news release.

“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 for collaborative projects,” added John Brown, SAPL dean.

Up to $9 million for the project will be funded by the City of Calgary.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek says the conversion is a key part of revitalizing the downtown core.

“By strengthening ties between post-secondary institutions and businesses, we’re driving economic growth, while making downtown a safer and more active place for all.”