A $300 million dollar investment announced today by the Provincial Government will see SAIT Polytechnic break ground next year on a Trades and Technology Complex that is expected to open up another 3,600 new training spaces to aspiring students.

“This funding announcement is a tangible demonstration of the government’s vision for the future and its clear, long-term plan to secure Alberta’s continued success,” says Irene Lewis, SAIT’s President and CEO. “Today’s investment will provide increased educational options for future students and will be welcomed news for business and industry hungry for more skilled, knowledgeable workers.”

The Trades and Technology Complex will provide multi-disciplinary programming in the high-demand sectors of energy, construction and manufacturing.

When completed, the 3,600 new spaces in the Trades and Technology Complex will engage 8,100 more students each year in hands-on, career-oriented training. This represents a 50 per cent increase in the number of apprenticeship spaces and a nearly 30 per cent increase for certificate, diploma and applied degree spaces.

The Trades and Technology Complex will be approximately 600,000 square feet in size. It will be located mainly along 16 Avenue NW. Some of its features will include classrooms, lecture theatres, computer labs, leading-edge workshops, an ‘Exploratorium’ for school-aged children, and the Enerplus Innovation Centre.

The total estimated cost for the new Trades and Technology Complex is $445 million. Leading corporations have already invested more than $26 million in the Complex, including two record-setting donations – a $10 million private donation from SAIT alumnus Keith MacPhail and a $5 million investment from Enerplus Resources Fund.

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SAIT Polytechnic has maintained close association with business and industry to ensure graduate success since 1916. SAIT offers 68 certificate, diploma, and applied degree programs as well as 33 apprenticeship programs, 300 distance education courses and 1,800 continuing education and customized corporate training courses. SAIT offers training in 15 countries around the world and has 75,000 course and program registrants each year. SAIT is a proud member of Polytechnics Canada.

 

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Media inquiries, please contact:

Heidi Sparks                                                                                                                                        

SAIT Corporate Communications                                              

Bus: 403-284-8473; Cell: 403-512-3291  

 

 

 

Trades and Technology Complex (TTC)

Summary

SAIT’s new Trades and Technology Complex is a world-class facility providing leading-edge multi-disciplinary programming.  It will play a critical role in addressing Alberta’s skilled-labour shortage and ensuring the continued prosperity of our province by:

·       Delivering thousands of new apprentices and graduates in the high-demand sectors of energy, construction, and manufacturing;

·       Dramatically enhancing the quality of SAIT’s trades and technology education in a collaborative, integrated, innovative learning environment; and

·       Attracting youth to careers in trades and technology.

 

Fast Facts:

Primary Occupants: MacPhail School of Energy, School of Construction; School of Manufacturing and Automation; Applied Research and Innovation Services

Features: Computer labs, leading-edge workshops, classrooms, lecture theatres, Exploratorium, Enerplus Innovation Centre.

The TTC will be a unique facility that brings together students and faculty from an array of sectors and different academic streams in an innovative, integrated learning model that reflects the realities of today’s workplace.

Timeline:  Groundbreaking – 2009; Initial Occupancy – 2012

Size: Approximately 600,000 square feet

Estimated Total Project Cost: 

Public Sector:                                                                $300M

Private Sector and Other Sources of Funding:                   $145M

Estimated Total:                                                             $445M

Private Sector Funds Raised to Date: More than $26M

Includes:

·          $10M – Keith MacPhail, PT’81, President and CEO of Bonavista Petroleum Ltd. 

·          $5M – Enerplus Resources Fund (dedicated to Enerplus Innovation Centre)

 

Impact:

Creating opportunities:

·          3,600 new student spaces for learning that will accommodate:

o        6,000 additional apprentices (1,500 spaces) each year, bringing the total number of SAIT apprentices at TTC completion to more than 17,000 – an increase of more than 50%.

o        2,100 more certificate, diploma and applied degree graduates (2,100 spaces), bringing the total number of certificate, diploma and applied degree graduates at TTC completion to about 10,000 – an increase of nearly 30%.

Addressing workforce shortages:

·          The focus of education and training delivered at TTC will be on the high-demand sectors of energy, construction, and manufacturing.  

·          Occupations benefiting most from TTC training will include: plumbers, electricians, welders, carpenters, millwrights, steamfitters, sheet metal mechanics and refrigeration mechanics.

·          Technical careers benefiting most from TTC will be in the areas of Petroleum Engineering Technology; Architectural Technology; Engineering, Design and Drafting Technology; Civil Engineering Technology; Electrical Engineering Technology; Power Engineering Technology and other certificate, diploma and applied degree programs supporting the energy, construction, and manufacturing sectors.

·          With the addition of TTC, SAIT has the potential to deliver more than 20,000 additional skilled tradespeople, technicians and technologists through the first 10 years of its operation – generating billions in GDP.

Attracting youth to trades and technology careers

·          The TTC will help to generate interest among Albertans in trades and technology careers through the operation of an ‘Exploratorium’ within the facility.  The Exploratorium will be an innovative, interactive, hands-on learning centre geared to interest junior and senior high students – as well as adults looking to upgrade their skills or change careers. The facility will creatively inform attendees about the many options in the trades and technology sectors, and motivate them toward pursuing these careers.

Engaging Industry

·          The Trades and Technology Complex provides an exceptional opportunity for industry to be part of a unique Alberta legacy. SAIT is working closely with key industry leaders to ensure the facility and programming meets their needs.  

Enriching communities across Alberta

The Trades and Technology Complex will benefit all Albertans. In recent years:

·          32 per cent of SAIT apprentices are from outside of Calgary;

·          Approximately 20 per cent of SAIT full-time grant program students are from outside Calgary;

·          23 per cent of SAIT graduates work outside of the Calgary region.