Demolishing the administration building makes space for South Quad

The University of Alberta has started demolishing the administration building on North Campus to create the South Quad open space.

The Gateway spoke with Director of Infrastructure Development Tony Hodge about the current and future plans regarding the project.

Although in the early stages of the project, Hodge said the administration building will be gone by the end of the summer semester.

“We’re expecting to start the actual demolition work early summer, wrapping it up before the fall term,” Hodge said.

Although Hodge does not expect any delays, the possibility of old structures below the building could change the timeline for completion.

The project began with a planning study that aimed to create an outdoor space adjacent to the Main Quad. According to the study, the goal was to transform the location into “a vibrant, inclusive, and dynamic outdoor space that reflects the university’s diverse culture and history.”

The U of A held online and in-person engagement activities in January 2025, the purpose of which was to gather input on what the community wanted to see in the space. Approximately 50 per cent of students responded to the survey.

Since then, the U of A has created a conceptual plan for the space’s design. However, that project is not currently funded. Because of that, only the demolition followed by landscaping will take place this year.

The administration building was chosen as the demolition site, as it is no longer useful.

“The building has passed its useful life, and it really doesn’t make financial sense to renovate it. It doesn’t meet the current needs of the university from an operational economic perspective,” Hodge said.

According to Hodge, the space would be more beneficial to students for meeting and gathering than it is in its current capacity.

When asked about the potential accessibility impacts this could have for students, Hodge said that there may be some detours. The main areas being around the bus loop, walking areas, and bicycle paths. However, that area of campus will still be accessible over the summer.

Hodge made it clear that disruption will be minimized over the summer.

After the demolition is finished, landscaping will begin in the area. No new structures will be added in the fall. However, the campus can expect to see grass, trees, and shrubs where the administration building is now.

Hodge said that the entire project is expected to cost $3 million. This includes demolition, landscaping, and abatement of hazardous materials.

With the building set to be removed by the end of the summer, the quad will begin to take on a new look, even as plans for the building’s long-term development are uncertain.