University Commons | ?m | 7s | U of A | GEC

What do you think of this project?


  • Total voters
    33

Daveography

Administrator
Staff member
Member Bio
Joined
Sep 22, 2015
Messages
10,218
Reaction score
23,059
Location
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
170322-dentistry-pharmacy-exterior-banner.jpg

The venerable Dentistry/Pharmacy Centre will get a complete overhaul thanks to $149 million in provincial capital funding.

Capital investment provides new lease on life for 'architectural treasure'
When the University of Alberta’s Medical Building opened its doors to students for the first time in September 1921, it was hailed as the “Pride of the Campus,” a complement to the Arts Building completed six years earlier.

With its towering cupola, signature brickwork and grand staircases, the building became an iconic backdrop on campus, home to the U of A’s brand new Faculty of Medicine. Although the exterior of what is now called the Dentistry/Pharmacy Centre remains as impressive today, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. The building is riddled with asbestos, the windows are porous, the electrical and mechanical systems are shot, resulting in a 30,650-sq.-m structure that’s sat largely vacant for five years.

Thanks to $149 million in capital funding included in this year’s provincial budget, the building will get a complete overhaul worthy of its historic significance.

“We’re just excited to bring it back to life. Everyone agrees it’s a great building we need to salvage, because it's not in great shape,” said Andrew Sharman, vice-president of facilities and operations.

The funding is part of an overall six-year, $249-million retrofit that will see Dent/Pharm, as it’s known, completely gutted on the interior with an additional atrium replacing the central courtyards.

https://www.ualberta.ca/news-and-ev...-new-lease-on-life-for-architectural-treasure
 
$149M upgrade to University of Alberta Dentistry/Pharmacy Building
New details were released Wednesday on a multi-year renovation slated for a 96-year-old building on the main University of Alberta campus.

In the budget tabled last week, the province designated $149 million over four years to restore the University of Alberta’s Dentistry/Pharmacy building, which has been deemed a provincial heritage site.

The renovated building will serve as the university’s new administrative hub. The Office of the Registrar will be relocated there from its current home in the Administration Building.

http://globalnews.ca/news/3327295/149m-upgrade-to-university-of-alberta-dentistrypharmacy-building/

University of Alberta's Dentistry and Pharmacy Building to become new administrative hub
The University of Alberta’s $249-million, six-year Dentistry and Pharmacy Building renovation project will not only give the university a new administrative hub, it will also help reduce its ballooning deferred maintenance bill and its carbon footprint, a news conference heard Wednesday.

Journal reporter Juris Graney breaks it down.

http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/cash-flows-in-for-u-of-a-dentpharm-building
 
I figured I'd bring this thread back from the dead. I happened to pass by last week and work seems to be steadily progressing. Scaffolding is up on the west side, and the entire area is surrounded by fencing. From what I could see it looked as though most of the interior was gutted.
 
It looks like work on the old Dent/Pharm is going along at breakneck pace now. Quite a lot has happened in the month since I've last been by.
Demolition of the western, 1946 wing has been completed....
IMG_20190805_234901_830.jpg


While work is steadily moving along on the eastern 1947 wing. I think its quite a shame they've decided to demolish these two additions, since they blended in seamlessly with the original building.
IMG_20190805_235344_854.jpg


Meanwhile, it looks like they're still gutting the large 1960's addition to the rear of the structure.
IMG_20190805_235251_206.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20190805_235133_340.jpg
    IMG_20190805_235133_340.jpg
    301.4 KB · Views: 621
Glad you were able to swing by and grab some pictures, Dave. As a poor unfortunate who happens to have a class literally right across the alley, I'm so glad the demo is almost finished, the rattling, and constant thumping's starting to get on everyone's nerves.
 

Back
Top