UCalgary COVID-19 Update: Building access

Building access

Starting Monday, May 17, most buildings on main campus will be locked throughout the day, but can still be accessed by electronic or key access. Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, staff and students participating in research, who normally access our buildings after-hours with their Unicard or issued keys, can still do so if permitted to work on campus by their supervisor.

General access will not be permitted until at least May 25, when the decision will be revisited.

This change is to ensure security of our facilities with reduced numbers on campus due to the heightened need for us all to work remotely as much as possible. It does not presently include the following:

• Foothills campus, which continues to offer clinical supports;
• Spy Hill campus and the Taylor Family Digital Library, where building access is unchanged; and
• MacEwan Student Centre, Dining Centre, Sport Medicine Centre and International House will remain open to support student, clinical and retail services.

Faculty and staff who do not currently have after-hours building access, but require it during the current restrictions, should contact their departmental access co-ordinator, who can arrange access on their behalf. If you do not know who that is, please contact elaccess@ucalgary.ca. For urgent requests to access a building, contact the Campus Security Access Desk at 403-220-5335 during business hours, or 403-220-5333 after 4:30 p.m. and on weekends.

If any individual is attending an approved university activity on campus, contact the organizer for specific details on access.

Ventilation

We’ve heard a growing number of questions regarding air circulation systems within our buildings recently.

The University of Calgary is committed to providing a safe work environment. The Facilities team has been paying close attention to heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems (HVAC) and how to ensure optimal use to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Health Canada and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) have established air-quality parameters for indoor (non-industrial) environments, with specific statements on infectious aerosols. These standards are used as best practices throughout the industry. All UCalgary buildings have ventilation and air-circulation standards that currently meet or exceed these standards, including the use of specialized air filters.

In addition to this, UCalgary maximized air circulation starting last summer based on ASHRAE infectious aerosol recommendations and continues to operate in this manner to ensure peak air quality is maintained throughout our buildings while maintaining thermal comfort.

For the latest COVID-19 updates affecting the UCalgary community,  visit www.ucalgary.ca/covid-19.