Two new residence buildings open on campus

The University of Calgary officially opened Aurora Hall and Crowsnest Hall Wednesday in a special sand ceremony commemorating this milestone.

“This is an exciting day for all of us,” says Randy Maus, associate director, Residence Services. “Construction began nearly two years ago in early November 2013 and now, here we are celebrating this achievement with the university community and all the parties who were able to make this happen.”

Residence Services, together with Elizabeth Cannon, president and vice-chancellor, University of Calgary; Linda Dalgetty, vice-president (finance and services); Ward Sutherland, deputy mayor, City of Calgary; and representatives of the residence community participated in a sand ceremony celebrating the symbolic blending of the two new buildings with the entire university community.

“This is an important milestone in the history of the University of Calgary,” says Cannon.“With the addition of two new buildings, we have physically enhanced the image of our campus and supported our Eyes High strategic plan by improving graduate student housing, providing more alternatives for international students, and by creating supportive infrastructure which features more housing choices on campus.” 

Aurora Hall and Crowsnest Hall

Aurora Hall houses upper-year undergraduate students in studio, two- and three-bedroom suites, totalling 268 beds. Aurora features full kitchens and private bathrooms. The building has a two-storey lounge, an academic/study lounge on every floor, multipurpose room and an event kitchen on the main floor.

Crowsnest Hall houses graduate students in one- and two-bedroom apartments, totalling 390 beds with full kitchens and private bathrooms. The building includes an academic project room, breakout study rooms, a music room, a multipurpose room and an event kitchen on the main floor. There is also a retail space for a café/deli on the main floor by the main entrance of the building.

The Residence Master plan involved full consultation and engagement with students, faculty and staff. “Our goals in the Master Plan are to enhance engagement in academic life, deepen connections to the university and continue creating strong and supportive student residence communities,” says Maus.

Residence experience extends to services and opportunities

The residence experience includes workshops, peer-assisted support services, counselling services and tutoring, extra-curricular education programs, social activities, leadership and volunteer opportunities. Each have been carefully crafted and designed to help meet the needs of residence students at different stages throughout their university education.

The buildings were delivered on time and on budget and Residence Services has met their occupancy goals for the 2015-16 academic year.

Quick facts about the other residence buildings

• Kananaskis and Rundle Halls were the first two residence buildings on campus built in 1965; these are the university’s first-year traditional dormitory style buildings
• Olympus was built in 1987; upper-year undergraduate student building
• Glacier was built in 1987; upper-year undergraduate student building
• Yamnuska was built in 2010-11; second-year undergraduate student building
• Cascade was built in 1999; upper-year undergraduate student building
• Norquay, Brewster and Castle were built in 1984 and demolished in 2015