EnCana student campus, art college relocation in downtown plans

The Urban Campus Partnership is in discussions to develop a campus in the new EnCana building in Calgary, as part of an ambitious plan to bring together six educational groups on downtown sites.

Talks are underway with EnCana for a downtown campus to occupy about 100,000 square feet of the south block of the energy company's headquarters, which is currently under construction, organizers said Tuesday in an annual update on the project.

The space in The Bow building would host cultural, continuing education and business programs for about 400 students.

The campus partnership — between the University of Calgary, Athabasca University, Bow Valley College, the Calgary Board of Education, SAIT Polytechnic and the Alberta College of Art + Design — began in 2004, with a mandate to develop the block east of city hall as a main site for classes.

The $235-million project is meant to revitalize the East Village and plans include a residential and commercial component. Planners say the urban campus, once completed, would accommodate 4,000 new college students, who could link to downtown businesses and existing continuing education programs.

Tuesday's update also revealed that the art college has begun discussions to relocate from its current northwest site to the East Village.