By: Eryn Pinksen
NAIT has acquired 32.79 acres of the Blatchford development plan after a finalized agreement with the City of Edmonton.
The long-term plan is to bring the satellite campuses to the main campus, except for Spruce Grove, and to build a NAIT student residence.
At the official announcement on Wednesday, Dr. Glenn Feltham, NAIT president and CEO, said the priority for the land is recreation and health facilities as well as student housing. NAIT is currently the largest polytechnic without an on-campus student residence.
The Government of Alberta is providing NAIT with a loan of $111 million to secure the land, however the land purchase price from the city has not been disclosed.
“By acquiring land at Blatchford, we have secured NAIT’s future for the next 100 years,” said Feltham.
Feltham explains that by nearly doubling the size of the main campus, NAIT will be able to meet the polytechnic needs of Alberta.
Mayor Don Iveson said that NAIT will be an anchor tenant in the sustainable community that will run on renewable energy.
“With Blatchford we’re investing in the future of Edmonton, and so … is NAIT,” said Iveson. “We’re investing in a world leading sustainable community that will one day house 30,000 people and thousands of jobs right here in the heart of our city.”
Photo Source: NAIT
