1991: Opening of the College of Agriculture

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“New College of Agriculture A Centre of Excellence” trumpeted the Star Phoenix headline announcing the official opening of the new Agriculture Building.  Designed by Folstad & Frigstad of Saskatoon and begun in 1988, the cost of construction was 92 million dollars. The new facility brought together faculty and departments that had been scattered in several locations

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around the campus. Along with classrooms, labs and offices, the building included a large atrium, herbarium, phytotron and art gallery.  Two fund raising campaigns were instrumental in transforming the dream of a new College of Agriculture building into reality.  The first comprised 135 individuals, “the Sodbusters,” who donated $1,000 each to cover the cost of site selection and architectural drawings.  With the preliminary work done, a major private sector funding initiative was launched.  The Partners in Growth capital campaign reached and surpassed its goal of $12 million in July of 1990.  Premier Grant Devine, a former Professor of Agricultural Economics at the U of S, had pledged the remainder of the funding in 1986.  On 25 October over 4000 guests gathered to celebrate the official opening. ¹

Related Collections

College of Agriculture fonds, RG 2026.
Alumni and Development Office fonds, RG 2023.

Images

1991a: Alumni and Development, 710-4.
1992b: Agriculture Building–Construction, [ca. 1990]. Photograph Collection, A-8284.

Sources

1. Subject file collection.