Wednesday, September 9, 2026
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) officially broke ground on the Advanced Skills Centre (ASC), marking the start of construction on the largest capital project in the polytechnic’s history.
“Today is an extraordinary day for NAIT, and the beginning of a new chapter,” said Laura Jo Gunter, NAIT president and CEO. “The Advanced Skills Centre is more than a building. It represents our commitment to future learners, industry, and the province. Generations of students will learn new skills here, and their success will build Alberta for decades to come.”
With construction officially underway, the ASC will bring 29 programs under one roof.
Designed to mirror real worksites, the 625,000-square-foot facility will provide students with hands-on experiences and skills and enable NAIT to train 5,500 additional students, increasing capacity to more than 15,000 skilled trades students each year.
Located on NAIT’s Main Campus, it will be the polytechnic’s largest capital project in its history, with a total cost of $779 million. The ASC is a shared investment between the Government of Alberta, which is funding 75 per cent of the project and NAIT, which is funding 25 per cent.
“Today’s groundbreaking marks an important milestone for NAIT, Alberta’s skilled trades, and our province’s future,” said Myles McDougall, Minister of Advanced Education.
The ASC is being delivered with the support of Dialog + GEC, Architect, the project’s architect, and PCL Construction as the construction manager.
The ASC is scheduled to welcome the first cohort of students in fall 2030.
Featured image: (NAIT)
