Planning ramps up for new Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus in Saskatoon

While the name has changed, Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Saskatoon campus has remained a staple for decades at the corner of Idylwyld Drive and 33rd Street.

It won’t be that way forever.

After years of discussion about relocating to a new campus, the vision is becoming a reality after the post-secondary school received $4 million in the March provincial budget.  The funding is part of the over $680 million provided in operating and capital grants to post-secondary institutions in 2022-23.

“It gives us the resources now to do what needs to be done,” said Dr. Larry Rosia, the school’s president and CEO.

“It’s really planning and design phases. The planning will really help us lay out the timelines for the project.”

Rosia said the school has been in a need of a new campus for a while, pointing to the 10 satellite locations across the city.

He noted the campus being spread out is impacting the programming the school is able to offer.

“There is a real need,” Rosia said. “(Having) 11 locations doesn’t really allow us to deliver programming that’s going to be required in the future.

“The buildings are end-of-life buildings so we need to revitalize, modernize and teach with advanced learning and the digital innovation which is part of every sector right now.”

Having a state-of-the-art campus is key to meeting the future employment needs of companies.

Rosia said recruitment is the No. 1 thing he hears from company CEOs around the country.

“One of the biggest challenges right now is talent,” he said.

“(The new campus) will allow us to continue to attract more domestic (and) more international students and it will serve as a magnet for more companies in Canada seeking that best talent for their industries.”

Rosia wouldn’t reveal a possible location for the new campus or a timeline for construction. He says a project of this scale takes roughly 18 months for the planning and design phase.

“The design will be looking at programming, for example what programs should be co-located close to one another so we can take advantage of synergies between programs,” he said.

“We’re in the early stages of that and there will be more to come on that shortly once we get through planning.”

The Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement is leading the campus renewal project which includes representatives from the ministries of advanced education and immigration and Saskatchewan Polytechnic.