U of L officially opens Science Commons building with “Big Bang” celebration

Mahon told LNN about some of the design inspirations behind the new building.

“The building is sort of meant to complement the Arthur Erickson University Hall, so it’s built into the coulees in the same manner, goes up into the coulees like University Hall does, but we didn’t want to mirror University Hall, so it has a very different look obviously with the glass.”

The reason it is called the Science Commons is because it offers space for anyone to learn, not just for students enrolled at the University.

“There’s specific labs for K-12 students, there’s an entrepreneur maker space for both our students as well as the business community, so it really is meant to be a very welcoming and diverse building,” says Mahon.

Premier Jason Kenney was one of several dignitaries who spoke at the event.

The United Conservative leader says he was astounded to see just how well the school turned out from both a learning and research standpoint and for its aesthetic appeal.

“What we are celebrating here is not just a building, it’s not just a place of academic study, it is, in many ways, the future. Thank you to the University of Lethbridge community for helping us to show the way to the future. May you go from success to success here in Science Commons at this fantastic place of learning.”

Kenney remarked on how the students attending Science Commons will take what they learn here and apply it to the real world, creating new innovations and jobs for the future.

He also liked that all the contracted companies who built the centre were from Alberta.

Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips added that, while this is an amazing facility for students, she is worried about how their student fees will look under the new UCP government.

“The question remains, though, what they’re going to be paying in tuition when they walk through the door next year or even starting in January. We know that the new government is going to lift the freeze on tuition – they already said they’re going to. I anticipate tuition will be going up 20-30% of the next couple of years.”

Photos and videos of the event can be viewed below:

The exterior of the Science Commons building at the University of Lethbridge. (Lethbridge News Now)

A tour guide showing guests through the new Science Commons building at the University of Lethbridge. (Lethbridge News Now)

One of the Science Commons’ foyers for students to relax. (Lethbridge News Now)

A student works away at one of the Science Commons’ many labs. (Lethbridge News Now)

One of the classrooms where children can play and learn about science. (Lethbridge News Now)

One of the boards where more complex formulas can be displayed. (Lethbridge News Now)

Some of the hundreds of attendees at the grand opening of the Science Commons building. (Lethbridge News Now)

by David Opinko

U of L officially opens Science Commons building with “Big Bang” celebration

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