SAPL’s new downtown home opens for Winter term

Students in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL) will return from their holiday break to a brand-new home, as an underused downtown Calgary office tower transforms into a vibrant academic hub. 

The expansion into 801 7 Ave. S.W. will create 1,200 new student spaces and free up 800 vital spaces on the University of Calgary’s main campus for in-demand programs, as SAPL moves its programs from there and the City Building Design Lab into one consolidated location. 

The move is the result of an innovative partnership between UCalgary and The City of Calgary that was announced last spring,  

“This relocation and expansion downtown will enrich the educational journey of our students, providing a dynamic urban context for learning within the fabric of the city,” says SAPL Dean John Brown. 

Located only one block from UCalgary’s downtown campus, the renovated building will be a dynamic educational hub located next to the 8th Street LRT station and Century Gardens Park, enhancing the downtown community. 

A living laboratory for students 

The move provides a unique opportunity for SAPL students to apply their knowledge in a practical, hands-on urban setting close to players in the industry in which they will one day work.  

Its proximity to the main downtown campus will also foster a vibrant campus atmosphere in downtown’s west end. Thanks to this central location, students and researchers will also have more opportunities to work with the professional community and the City on collaborative projects. 

Crews are currently busy getting everything ready for staff and students, and no disruption to classes or programming is expected.

The building will open to students early in the New Year, with Block Week courses beginning on Jan. 5, followed by the official start of classes on Jan. 12. 

Stay tuned for more updates as SAPL prepares for this significant transition.