Construction has already started for Grant MacEwan University's new $20 million service centre at 109th St. and 104th Ave. University officials unveiled big plans Tuesday for the facility's future in downtown Edmonton.
A crane on top of the parkade at Grant MacEwan's City Centre Campus is the first visible sign of the construction of the University Service Centre, which will boast 60,000 square feet of space.
Dr. Paul Byrne, president and CEO of Grant MacEwan University, says the new centre will house 200 staff members. He says the plan is to eventually have all students, staff and faculty from all arts and communications programs located downtown.
"By moving staff into the centre, we will free up space for students and faculty which will help bring them closer together."
The new vision includes a multi-level pedway, new buildings, and a new outdoor quad.
Byrne says the majority of the centre's $20 million cost is coming from the institution.
"We are making use of an account that was established a few years ago for the purpose of adding capacity to our physical resources," he said.
But the cost of the remainder of the institution's vision is still unknown.
"It's by no means ambitious, it's realistic. But it will take time. It's really a concept only right now," said Byrne.
And while officials insist the vision is only a concept for now, some students worry about the future impacts to tuition and fees.
"I don't know just how much more money they could get out of us, just by making a nicer campus," said student Evan Tanasiuk.
It's still unclear when the entire consolidation could be completed. Officials suggest it could take up to 25 years.
MacEwan received $1 million in funding from the federal government. So far, the institution says the province has not made a funding commitment to the project.
With files from Bill Fortier
