With a new academic year in full swing, the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS) University of Regina (U of R) campus is settling into their new home on the revitalized College Avenue Campus (CAC).
On August 7, the JSGS faculty and staff on the U of R campus packed up and moved downtown to the College Building on the CAC, following the completion of a renovation project that began in 2016 which boasts many great assets for the JSGS.
The $63.6 million project to revitalize the College Building, partially funded by a $28.7 million contribution from the Government of Canada’s Strategic Investment Fund, aimed to restore and preserve the existing heritage architecture while improving safety, accessibility and sustainability. Some of the features within the rejuvenated spaced include:
- An open/glass entry at the College Building main entrance that reintroduces the original plan for a porte-cochère, or covered carriage entrance;
- Heritage hallways refurbished as close to original as possible with open ceilings, hanging lights, wood trim, original doors, and slate and quarry tile flooring;
- Office suites are open, with a focus on heritage windows; ceilings designed to preserve the height of windows and high glass walls to allow light into interior offices; and,
In addition to the restored elements, the renovated building boasts a modern, accessible place for faculty, students and staff to gather. Located fully on the third floor, the JSGS space has enough room to house all faculty and staff, as well as over 4,600 square feet of classroom, meeting and breakout space, and an open-concept lounge space dedicated to JSGS students.
Classrooms have been fitted with video conferencing technologies, and the new, modern features serve to enhance teaching and learning. Not to mention, the new atrium provides street level access to the College Building and has elevator access to the lower, main, second and third floor. The buildings new HVAC system is also similar to those installed in other LEED Gold and Silver facilities in the province.
Having all aspects of the school under one roof, there are greater opportunities for collaboration and conversation between students and faculty.
“There's no better place to learn from Saskatchewan's leading public service and administration experts than at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy in the newly renovated historic College Avenue campus,” says Master of Public Administration student, Jocelyn Crivea. “It is a fabulous space that overlooks Wascana Lake and the Legislative Building. I can't think of a nicer space in the city.”
With stunning views of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building just across the water, Interim Executive Director, Doug Moen, recognizes this move as a great opportunity for the JSGS to develop greater connections with the Government of Saskatchewan.
“Our relocation to the College Avenue Campus is already proving to be an excellent asset for our graduate students who visualize a career in public service,” said Moen. “It also has expanded the opportunity for teaching and learning within the public sector, providing space for public servants to take advantage of the school’s Executive Education Programs.”
The move also allowed for the Centre for the Study of Science and Innovation Policy (CSIP) to have their own space on the JSGS’ Regina campus.
“With the new space on our Regina campus, we are looking forward to expanding the Centre’s research and outreach in Saskatchewan’s capital,” says the centre’s Director and Research Lead of Bioscience and Food Policy, Peter Phillips. “This development will be a great opportunity to better connect with students and faculty in Regina to continue the facilitation of CSIP’s significant research endeavors."
The College Building is also home to the U of R’s Centre for Continuing Education, including the Lifelong Learning Centre and the Conservatory of Performing Arts.
The CAC has served approximately 8,000 people each year, hosting dozens of community and cultural events over the past 100+ years. An event to acknowledge the project’s generous donors was held in late August and the CAC’s official grand opening is set for early October.