SAIT extends footprint in downtown’s Barclay Centre
New SAIT facility to strengthen access and engagement with industry partners
MEDIA RELEASE
Calgary, AB (Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024) — A new SAIT facility is coming to Calgary’s downtown core. Located at 444 7 Ave SW — in the same building as The Tastemarket by SAIT — this new showpiece space in Barclay Centre will be key to SAIT programming, including the School for Advanced Digital Technology (SADT) as the pillar school, with a focus on leaning in closer to connect with our partners through collaboration and work-integrated learning activities.
The facility, totalling more than 19,000 square feet, will encompass two floors of instructional and collaborative workspace. As part of SAIT’s commitment to the continued revitalization of Calgary’s downtown core, establishing our presence in one central location offers greater accessibility to engage with industry.
“Industry support for our new space is strong,” says Dr. David Ross, SAIT President and CEO. “SAIT continues to be part of the solution to today’s economic challenges and an active participant in leading positive change in our city and province. Our added downtown space in Barclay Centre will contribute to that positive change and further strengthen our industry connections.”
The space will be home to a number of SADT’s cyber programs and a new state-of-the-art cyber lab — a virtual environment created to simulate cyber attacks and crises, where youth, students, professionals and industry partners can receive hands-on training in responding to real-time cybersecurity scenarios.
“Industry collaboration plays such an important role in the work we do at SAIT,” says Heather Magotiaux, SAIT Vice President, External Relations. “The creation of this vibrant, multi-faceted space will further our ability to connect with partners in and out of downtown, providing another facility to showcase all SAIT has to offer.”
Additional details about the programs and opportunities housed in the space will be released in the coming months.
The facility is expected to be operational Fall 2024.
About SAIT
Established in 1916, SAIT was the first of its kind, publicly funded technical school in North America. As a global leader in applied education and research — serving nearly 40,000 students annually — SAIT offers certificate, diploma, post diploma, apprenticeship and applied degree programs, baccalaureate degrees, corporate training and more than 1,000 continuing education courses, along with six dedicated, award-winning areas of research and capacity for new and emerging research. Curriculum and research priorities are developed through industry partnerships to ensure graduates have the skills and knowledge required to fulfill the demand for talent. SAIT is honoured to be recognized by Mediacorp Canada Inc. as one of Alberta’s Top Employers for 2024, and to be ranked sixth by Research Infosource Inc. in the Top 50 Research Colleges in Canada for 2023. CEOWORLD Magazine ranked the SAIT School of Business #49 and top Canadian school on the list of Best Business Schools in the World for 2024, and the School of Hospitality and Tourism placed #14 on their list of Best Hospitality and Hotel Management Schools in the World for 2024.
Advances in digital technology programming have been made possible by the support of philanthropist David Bissett, whose gift to SAIT of $30 million laid the foundation for the School for Advanced Digital Technology.
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SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.