UNIVERSITY OF REGINA RECEIVES $23.6 MILLION FOR LABORATORY BUILDING ADDITION

The Government of Saskatchewan is investing $23.6 million to fund continuing construction of the University of Regina’s (U of R) Laboratory Building addition.  The state-of-the-art facility, which will house more than 30 research teams including over 100 graduate students, will be an important means of attracting top researchers, teachers and students to the university.

“With this addition to the Laboratory Building, the University of Regina will have some of the best research and teaching facilities in the country,” Advanced Education and Employment Minister Pat Atkinson said.  “Quality research and education promote the spirit of discovery and exploration that inspires innovation and success.”

Today’s funding, which will offset unforeseen cost increases caused by increased inflation in the construction industry, is in addition to the $36.6 million the provincial government has already invested in the Laboratory Building addition since 2002.

“For the U of R to compete with the top teaching and research institutions in Canada, we must ensure that our teaching and laboratory facilities are as up-to-date as possible for our students and faculty,” University of Regina president and Vice-Chancellor Jim Tomkins said.  “This new Laboratory Building will be crucial for the science teaching and research that touches so many aspects of our lives.”

When completed, the new Laboratory Building will be one of the most modern teaching and research facilities in Canada, featuring state-of-the art laboratory space for students and faculty, as well as modern audio-visual and conferencing capabilities.

The building will also be very energy efficient, exceeding the Model National Energy Code by more than 25 per cent.  It will have a passive solar construction that maximizes heat from the sun in winter and minimizes it in summer, and will feature the first “green roof” of its kind in Saskatchewan. 

The funding announced today will allow the U of R to complete the building according to the original plan.  The first floor of the 150,000 square foot building will be open at the end of May 2007, with floors two, three and four completed and occupied in stages by the fall of 2008.  According to the plan, the fifth floor will be developed in the future as needed.

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For more information, contact:

Terry White
Advanced Education and Employment
Regina
Phone: 306-787-7791
Email: twhite@sasked.gov.sk.ca

Stephen King
University of Regina
Regina
Phone: 306-585-5439
Email: Stephen.King@uregina.ca