ÀÖÓ¯VI

What will our campuses look like in 20 years?

The university’s strategic plan, Shape, outlines a bold vision for the university’s future, including an ambitious target to grow to 60,000 students by 2033. We need to enable growth while managing the pressures our enrolment goals put on existing spaces. We must prioritize the investments we make in operating and maintaining our buildings and infrastructure. At the same time, we need to thoughtfully plan land, buildings and spaces within our campuses in alignment with our mission: education, research and engagement.

Built for Purpose: The University’s Strategic Campus Plan starts the conversation on how we can accommodate these students in the next decade within our existing campus footprints. At the same time, it envisions the university’s campuses as vibrant, sustainable, accessible, and collaborative spaces that give our students rich, memorable and meaningful experiences, ensure our researchers benefit from quality research spaces and supports and allow our campus communities to thrive by delivering transformational opportunities to learn, innovate, create, collaborate and support well-being.

What we build and how we build it: Painting a picture of our campuses now through 2045

The goals and strategy outlined in Built for Purpose are thoroughly researched and have been benchmarked against comparable Canadian post-secondary institutions. It defines high-level priorities for space, while strategically addressing infrastructure life-cycle challenges we are facing. It prioritizes enabling growth while holding or reducing our operating costs and intentions. The plan also articulates intentions for campus infrastructure that bring campus planning direction together in one place. 

Combining in-depth analysis, maps and visuals across North Campus, South Campus, Campus Saint-Jean, Enterprise Square and Augustana Campus provides a view into how our physical infrastructure and spaces can meet current and future demands.

The plan takes into account historical context, current state and future trends to identify opportunities and challenges related to key types of campus spaces and infrastructure. These include laboratories; classrooms and other learning spaces; student spaces; performance spaces; library and museums; academic and administrative offices; residences; sport, recreation and athletics spaces; retail and commercial spaces, the district energy system; transportation and open spaces.

Measuring and reporting on our progress

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are associated with priorities outlined in the plan, along with benchmark indicators to measure progress. As a long-term plan, Built for Purpose is flexible with respect to implementation in order to respond to changing priorities, needs and opportunities.

Comparables from other Canadian post-secondary institutions will shift over time, so benchmark indicators will be re-evaluated every 3-5 years. As KPIs and benchmark indicators are established for priorities that don’t currently have them, they will be incorporated into measurement and reporting.

Developing the plan

Built for Purpose was developed iteratively with contributions from a multi-disciplinary working group and U of A community members and interest holders spanning the entire institution,  including students, faculty, and staff across colleges, faculties and departments. 

Work began early last year and included analysis, discussion papers, consultation sessions, town halls, a survey and meetings. Feedback is collected and summarized in a What We Heard report, available on the Built for Purpose web page. 

Built for Purpose is a key plan for the university. Thank you to everyone who participated in the consultation and development of this plan. It is our roadmap as we thoughtfully plan and manage the institution’s land, property, facilities and spaces in alignment with our mission: the educational and cultural advancement of the people of ÀÖÓ¯VI.

Ashley Bhatia
Associate Vice-President, Infrastructure Planning, Development and Partnerships