U of S President Peter MacKinnon and Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer share chiselling duties at a ceremny to mark the start of construction of the student residence project. Looking on are Derek Boldt of Torus Stone, left, and Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison.
photo by Liam Richards

The project, scheduled for completion in August 2011, will address the lack of student housing on campus. The two five-storey apartment-style buildings will house 400 students and will be the first student living space constructed on campus in more than three decades.

“Accommodating more of the student population was the number one priority,” said U of S Vice-President Finance and Resources Richard Florizone. “These buildings will bring the student-accommodation level on campus to about eight per cent.”

This is the first phase of a five-year plan to accommodate 15 per cent of the U of S student population, up from the current level of six per cent. The total cost of this phase of the project is about $35.9 million, with $15 million coming from the Province of Saskatchewan, $575,000 from the City of Saskatoon, and the U of S financing the remaining costs to be paid through student rent.

Check out the rest of the story in On Campus News