The Life Sciences Innovation + Future Technologies (LIFT) Centre – Phase 1

The Biological Sciences Building is an important space on our campus, and the redevelopment of the building has been a number one priority in the U of A’s capital plan since 2022. It is an aging building with utilities near the end of their life and with significant deferred maintenance. Its aging mechanical and electrical systems are in poor condition, and upgrades are necessary to ensure that connected buildings like CCIS are not affected. The project will also help address deferred maintenance costs. This is a much needed investment in a building complex that is large and built on a solid foundation, but that needs major upgrading and renovation.

The LIFT Centre project also provides an opportunity to plan for an exciting future of teaching and research at the university. The renovations include plans to double much-needed high service laboratory spaces and increase access to high-demand programs across our campuses.

The entire complex will be evaluated, identifying opportunities to build state-of-the-art lab spaces to empower research and teaching. The building will undergo major retrofitting and updating with complex utilities, controlled environments and advanced safety features such as protection against electrical failures and flooding needed for a high-service laboratory complex.

Committees have been established with representation from faculties in the colleges of Natural and Applied Sciences and Health Sciences. The LIFT Centre Planning Steering Committee has membership that includes the deans of ALES and Science. There is a LIFT Centre working group with academics from the three CNAS faculties and from biological sciences, as well as the Office of the Vice President, Research and Museums and Collections. The committees are working with an external architectural firm on functional space planning.

Subject Matter Experts are also convening ongoing meetings with the architectural firm with experts being represented from ALES, Engineering and Science; the Office of the VPR, Office of the Registrar, and Office of the Provost (Libraries and Collections). These representatives are providing insight around the operational needs of collections, animal services, manufacturing shops, greenhouse, core spaces, instructional spaces and more and how these impact the project.

Subject matter groups include:

1. Research Use; Laboratories
2. Research Use; Animal Services
3. Research Use; Core Instrumentation
4. Research Use; Workshops
5. Research Use; Collections
6. Research Use; Plant Growth
7. Instruction Use; Laboratory & Prep Spaces
8. Instruction Use; Plant Growth
9. Instruction Use; Collections

The committees and subject matter experts have worked with an external design team, with input from faculty leaders, to complete planning work. This shared understanding of priorities, needs and opportunities are being used to guide development of the design. Find the project timeline above.

Construction is expected to occur across at least five distinct phases. Currently, capital funding is secured for Phase 1 only, which will focus primarily on core infrastructure renewal, improved circulation, and expansion. The remaining phases will proceed sequentially as additional capital funding is secured. Decisions related to specific Phase 1 project scope have not been made. These decisions will be made in the Design Development stage (see timeline above) and will be directed by the LIFT Centre Planning Steering Committee.

Planning and early design work will consider the entire complex. Establishing a comprehensive plan upfront ensures that each sequential construction phase will continue to align with the long-term vision for the LIFT Centre.

All projects are being considered as part of the LIFT Centre planning and larger CNAS space master planning. Any current space changes already approved or underway should not be paused and you should continue to work with your faculty leaders on upgrades and renovations. For example, the Biological Science Centre Wing fourth floor has scheduled drainage system replacement and this work will continue as planned.

No, maintenance work requisitions for emergent issues or repairs would continue regardless of the LIFT Centre project.

The planning and design of the entire LIFT Centre is not complete, so it is too early to know details of how offices and labs may be renovated. Phase 1 of the project will prioritize addressing issues with base building systems, such as mechanical systems. When all phases of the project are funded, planning for offices and labs improvements will be addressed. Timing of future phases is not known yet.

The planning and design of the LIFT Centre is not complete, so it is too early to know details of the renovations. No departments/units have been identified to move out of the Biological Sciences Building at this time.

The LIFT Centre is imagined as a boundaryless hub for research and teaching that nurtures collaboration across the life sciences.

We encourage you to stay engaged in this exciting project as it develops. Refer to this page and communicate with your faculty leadership including your chair and dean for more information.