New Facilities at SAIT

September 3, 2012
By Cody Battershill

SAIT New Facilities Open for Fall 2012 Semester

If you are living in Calgary, chances are you have noticed the massive expansion project occurring at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (SAIT) campus. Under construction for over two years, the high-tech facility is now opening its doors in the fall of 2012 to students. Awesome!

SAIT’s new additions have some very important and unique features including the first ever three dimensional drilling simulator (first of its kind at a post-secondary establishment in North America), technologically advanced welding booths and specially designed areas for SAIT students and industry to team up for research and projects.

Three buildings in total are the constituents of the $400 million dollar addition, with three quarters of the funds contributed by the provincial government and the rest raised from private donors, most of whom were SAIT alumni. Included in the new complexes are the School of Construction, the MacPhail School of Energy and the School of Manufacturing and Automation.

One unique aspect of design in the new facilities is exposed building systems and duct work, helping students learn how they function.

SAIT officials are very excited to see these three new complexes help facilitate innovative learning, critical thinking and help inspire future generations of students, propelling them into successful careers.

As the oil and gas sector in Alberta is ramping up once again, there is high demand for technological and trades workers. SAIT’s new complexes will accommodate another 8,100 students for enrollment at the post-secondary institution and will work nicely in graduating new recruits for companies.

This is the largest expansion in the history of SAIT and has been named as “one of the most innovative urban infrastructure projects in the world” by KPMG’s Infrastructure 100: World Cities Edition magazine.