In
1979 portions of the College Building were declared unsafe. The building that
had been at the heart of University’s life for seven decades was showing
its age. A weak roof structure and deteriorating cement precipitated action
on the part of the University’s administration. From a number of options
available, the choice was made to build a new building adjacent to the original
structure.
The Administration Addition was opened in October of 1987, construction having began in the fall of 1985. Designed by Weins Johnstone Architects of Regina and built by Penn-Co Construction of Calgary, the $6.6 million three story stone clad building contained 4,646 square metres of floor space, approximately the same office space as the College Building. The two buildings were directly linked with some of the College Building’s exterior walls in the addition’s interior space. The new office space was an open concept with movable partition walls that provided flexibility of use. In the College Building, Convocation Hall remained open until all public access to the building was prohibited.