Sask. Polytechnic to close Idylwyld campus, move to Innovation Place

Saskatchewan Polytechnic is moving its headquarters from Idylwyld Drive in Saskatoon to a new space at Innovation Place on the University of Saskatchewan campus.

In a media release Wednesday, the Saskatchewan government, the school and the University of Saskatchewan said the new campus “will transform an existing network of 11 decentralized, outdated buildings into a revitalized complex that offers modern, technology-rich learning for students and greater opportunities for applied research and investment.”

The new campus is to be built at Innovation Place on the U of S campus. The provincial government is providing up to $200 million in funding for the project.

“We really think we’ll set the bar and set the example for what the rest of Canada will strive to be,” Premier Scott Moe said during a media conference at the site.

“When you look at this innovation corridor, it’s exciting, it’s new, it’s the first of its kind in Canada, and I think many people (and) many levels of government will want to be a part of it.”

Moe said Saskatchewan has seen what he called “record increases in student population” at the province’s post-secondary institutions and he expects that to continue.

“We need those educated young folks in our labour force, but I would say even more important than that, we need those young folks in our Saskatchewan communities making their home (and) raising their families,” Moe said.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic president-CEO Dr. Larry Rosia said the institution “is a player in the innovation landscape.”

“Our innovation is a little different than the universities. That’s why partnering with the university, we can round out that ecosystem,” he said in reference to the U of S. “The university discovers things (and then) we take that discovery and help industry apply it.”

Rosia said Saskatchewan Polytechnic has led the nation in applied research dollars that it has attracted over the past year.

The initial planning for the project should pan out over the next year, he added, noting that from there, once the shovels hit the ground, the project would take about three years to build and complete.

The provincial government provided $6 million in the 2023-24 budget for the campus planning and design. Since 2018-19, the government has put up $11.4 million for planning and design work related to the project.

Rosia said the school will also look at sequencing the project in a manner that won’t disrupt classes for students.

He didn’t know the exact cost of the project but guessed it would be around $500 million. The project will rely on the funding the provincial government has provided, but still more is needed.

“The $200 million they’ve invested in this project is a big step; we will be looking for donors and we will be launching a capital campaign,” he said, adding Saskatchewan Polytechnic will also be looking to the federal government to help fund the project.

“When you look at what’s happening in this industry with escalating costs right now, that’s why we need more students (and) that’s why we need this project going. We need to get more skilled people in the workforce to help with some of those shortages.”

Rosia said the new campus will save dollars in operations and that having multiple locations is inefficient and ineffective. He added that a lot of students don’t have the support systems they need in the current locations.

In the media release, Rosia said the new campus will be “a once-in-a generation opportunity to create a 21st century, modern learning environment that supplies the expert workforce for existing and emerging industries.”

Planning for the campus will continue on the financial aspect of the campus as well as its preliminary design and other issues.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Shane Clausing