Largest capital project in U of S history officially opens

Watch above: state-of-the-art Health Sciences building officially opens

SASKATOON – It’s the largest capital project in the history of the institution. On Thursday, the University of Saskatchewan officially opened the new additions to the Health Sciences building.

It’s been years and millions of dollars in the making.

“This building represents a transformative change at the university,” said Ilene Busch-Vishniac, president of the University of Saskatchewan.

This state-of-the-art facility is now complete.

“Instead of being siloed where each of our seven health disciplines is in a different location we’re bringing everybody together under one roof,” said Busch-Vishniac.

The two new wings of the Health Sciences building will support collaboration between students, faculty and researchers in the health sciences, helping educate health professionals using a team centred approach.

“Really this is a beacon that really highlights the excellence we have in health research in health sciences and in health collaboration, which means we’re not just doing great science here, we’re also helping make sure that people of Saskatchewan have better health services,” said Advanced Education Minister Rob Norris.

While programs have already been operating in the new facility since the fall, a grand opening was held Thursday.

The provincial government chipped in over $300 million to make the Health Sciences building a reality.

Leslie and Irene Dube donated $10 million towards the project, for which a lecture hall and library is named in their honor.

“I think what it says is that the province recognizes that we have the right vision for the future not just for the university but for everybody in Saskatchewan and the Dube’s recognize that as well and they continue with their remarkable and generous philanthropy in the health fields,” said Busch-Vishniac.

Construction of the D and E wings began in 2008 and were completed in 2013.

The new facilities feature state-of-the-art classrooms and labs along with clinical learning resources and collaborative learning spaces.