U of S to move ahead with demolition of 2 historic buildings deemed unsafe, too expensive to restore

WATCH: After months of delay, the University of Saskatchewan says it’s moving ahead with the demolition on the Lutheran Seminary Building on campus.

Plans to demolish two historic buildings on campus grounds at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) will move forward.

The university says its board of governors has decided to tear down two unused buildings - located at 113 and 114 Seminary Crescent - due to safety and security risks.

“While the board appreciates the historical significance of the Lutheran Theological Seminary building, this does not outweigh the very real and immediate risk to public safety posed by these vacant and deteriorating buildings, nor does it supersede the Board’s fiduciary responsibility,” a news release from U of S read.

According to U of S, the 114 Seminary Crescent property has been owned by the Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS) since 1967 but has been unoccupied for the past five years. 

The U of S says it supported LTS in trying to find suitable buyers and tenants for the facility, but none were found, and the LTS supports the demolition.

Despite receiving five Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to restore the buildings, the board determined that none were financially viable. Estimates suggested that restoring 114 Seminary Crescent would cost $55-60 million.

The decision comes after the City of Saskatoon’s fire department issued orders for both properties, requiring repairs or demolition. With no viable financial alternatives, the board has determined demolition is the only practical option.

• Get the latest news from Saskatoon, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

“In 2024, USask Protective Services responded to more than 160 security calls to this site. The 113 building is unusable without significant investment due to flooding and a catastrophic failure of the building’s electrical transformer,” the news release read.

“Due to community feedback, in December of 2024 the board paused its call for proposals for demolition in order to formally seek Expressions of Interest (EOI) to fund the restoration of the buildings for future uses aligned with the university’s teaching and research mission.”

The buildings were designed by Saskatoon architect John Holliday-Scott, who also designed the U of S Law/Commerce Building and the U of S Dentistry Building.

According to U of S, while the LTS property was considered an affiliated heritage asset in the university’s own internal heritage register, the property does not have any heritage status that is recognized federally, provincially, or municipally.

The U of S plans to commemorate the buildings’ architectural heritage and notes that the demolition aligns with the Core Campus Master Plan, which designates the area for recreational and open spaces.

The demolitions will begin within the next few months.