By Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

Destination project coming together on time and on budget

Mar 31, 2017 | 4:38 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Things are moving along nicely for the University of Lethbridge destination project’s grand opening in fall 2019.
 
Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, dropped by for a quick tour of the construction site on Friday (Mar. 31). The Government of Alberta announced on March 16 that $65-million was allocated for the project in the 2017 provincial budget.
 
The province will invest more than $247-million in the new science and academic facility by the time the doors open to students.
 
“It is the largest investment in this university since it was built. It’s really fulfilling a need for the city, for our researchers, for the province’s research capacity,” Phillips went on to explain. 
 
“It’ll position Lethbridge to be able to attract new talent into the city. It’ll allow us to expand the enrollment of this university which is really great for the economy in Lethbridge.”
 
The 36,000-sq metre destination project will replace the current science building. It will eventually allow for competitive science programs and world-class research opportunities, according to the university.
 
Daryl Campbell, senior superintendent for PCL Construction, says the first phase of construction — which entails getting the concrete structure all set up — is going very well, with everything on time and on budget to this point.
 
He estimated that this phase will be complete by November, and the entire project is roughly 23-per cent done at this point. Campbell added that the building should be completely closed in by spring 2018.
 
On any given day, Campbell says there are between 150 to 170 people working on site, most being local hires. That number is expected to grow to 350 as construction progresses.
 
“It’s really given a shot in the arm to the construction industry and those good construction jobs here in Lethbridge, which is really important to us as a government that we make the investments now to grow the city, to grow the province and to keep people working while we’re doing it,” added Phillips.
 
The University of Lethbridge project is one of 11 capital and planning projects across Alberta’s post-secondary system.