Athabasca University breaks ground for the Academic and Research Centre

September 22, 2008

September 19, 2008

A sod turning ceremony today at AU’s main campus in Athabasca, Alberta marked the beginning of an important new phase in the construction of the University’s new Academic and Research centre (ARC).

Jeff Johnson, MLA for Athabasca-Redwater joined Joy Romero, Chair of the Athabasca University Governing Council, and Dr. Frits Pannekoek, President of Athabasca University as the first spade went into the ground beginning the official construction phase on the new facility.

“It’s a groundbreaking day for a groundbreaking institution,” said Jeff Johnson, MLA for Athabasca-Redwater. “The ARC is an important addition to our fleet of Innovation Centres across the province. Premier Stelmach believes strongly in investing in our future and this building is a sign of that commitment.”

The new $30-million dollar facility is being funded by the Alberta government. The grant was announced last fall by the Honourable Doug Horner, Alberta’s Minister of Advanced Education.

“We are setting the foundation for our future,” Athabasca University Governing Council Chair Joy Romero told about 300 staff and community members who attended the ceremony.

AU president Dr. Frits Pannekoek thanked the town and county for their support for the university. “I’ve been asked by visitors from all over the world ‘how can a university the size of AU work in a community of a few thousand?’” he said. “The answer is very simple. It works here because of the commitment the community has to this University.”

The ARC building will increase space at the University’s main campus by nearly 50% and will house the support and services necessary to enable AU continue to grow. The University now serves more than 37,000 students in more than 90 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs.

For more information, see http://www.athabascau.ca/aboutAU/projects/ARC

For more information contact:

John O’Brien
Manager, Media Relations

Email: jobrien@athabascau.ca
Phone: 403-298-2931

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Updated August 21, 2012