Tory Atrium closed until winter semester, at minimum

The Henry Marshall Tory Building Atrium — commonly called the Tory Atrium — is closed until, at minimum, winter 2025. This atrium connects the Tory Building and the Alberta School of Business.

The Tory Atrium is currently undergoing renovations. One of the main priorities is addressing deferred maintenance, according to Kent Love, manager of capital projects at the University of Alberta’s Project Management Office. Specifically, a skylight in Tory Atrium began to leak, creating slipping hazards and damaging flooring. Instead of another skylight, a clerestory was chosen as it will still allow in light.

“It was a great feature at the time, but like all skylights, they eventually will leak,” Love said.

Addressing heating issues is also a “big part” of the renovations, Love said. The Tory Atrium was always “cold in the winter and hot in the summer.” Upgrading to triple-pane glass will help Tory Atrium better conserve heat and make it more comfortable, Love said. 

“We’re hoping that this improvement to the building envelope will help make it a more comfortable space,” Love said.

Kelly Hopkin, manager of campus architecture, mentioned that the window glazing on the east and west sides of Tory Atrium has been replaced. These replacements “further support the sustainability and energy conservation piece,” he said.

“Windows are the biggest holes in a building. You want to make sure that your technology is up to date and you have the best systems there,” Hopkin said.

Renovations intended to “improve the student experience on campus”

According to Love, they worked with the Student Experience Action Plan (SEAP) group to fund the renovations. Beyond addressing deferred maintenance, these renovations are intended to “improve the student experience on campus.”

In addition to installing the clerestory, the renovations will also address other issues. Love mentioned replacing old flooring, installing new lighting, improvements to the mechanical and electrical systems, and installing millwork.

Hopkin said the goal is to turn Tory Atrium into “a real space that students want to stay for longer periods of time.” He mentioned better lighting, acoustics, and furniture. They’ve installed a student food area with a water bottle-filling station, sink, and microwaves, Hopkin said.

“[Tory Atrium] is a hallway for 10 minutes on the hour. But it can be so much more than that for the rest of the time,” Love said.

“There’s a real emphasis here to try and provide a space for students who need that third area or third period of time while they’re waiting in between classes,” Hopkin said.

According to Love, the renovations are currently on track. The renovations could go on until spring 2025, but Love said they’re hoping to be done in January or February 2025. He noted that “things can be unpredictable.”