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Placing the student experience at the heart of the decision-making process
One of the most exciting changes to our campus in many years is almost here with the opening of the Sam Taylor Student Commons (STSC). This major transformation of underutilized areas brings together services, spaces and opportunities designed to enrich the student experience at Mount Royal. Join us in the coming months as our community makes this space its own.
This new space will serve as the starting point for student support, making it easier for students to find the right service, navigate processes and receive the resources they need throughout their university journey. A centralized counter to support and refer students will streamline their experience, with appointment rooms and flexible spaces that prioritize student use.
The Commons will open in phases: in mid-November, Sam Plaza will welcome the community as a new central gathering place to meet, connect and enjoy the revitalized space. The Plaza also features a new gateway to the Iniskim Centre. One of two entrances to the Global Student Lounge is also by the Plaza on Level 1.
In January 2027, the majority of student-facing services will be delivered in the Commons. Until then, students can continue to access services in their current locations. Return to this page in the coming weeks and months as we continue to share information in the countdown to the opening of the STSC.
What's inside?
Some of the services and resources that you’ll be able to access in STSC in 2027 include:
- Alumni
- Career Services
- Early Support
- Global Student Lounge
- Office of Community and Belonging
- Office of the Registrar: Student-facing services
In addition to the above student-focused services, we can look forward to:
- Student Central, the starting point for integrated student support, located on The Avenue, a new north-south corridor that will intersect Main Street
- A new gateway to Iniskim Centre
- Ample gathering space in Sam Plaza, with flexible seating and new microwave areas
- An Indigenous art gallery wall and dedicated land acknowledgement space
- Two enlarged Geology labs
- Two large, 60-person classrooms
- Two multi-purpose spaces on Level 2 overlooking the Sam Plaza
- Washrooms on both levels of Main Street, gendered and all-gender (opening in September)
- Flexible appointment rooms that can be booked by students outside of business hours (coming in 2027)
- Overall improved accessibility throughout the space, including an elevator
Photo 1: Work on the glass curtain wall along Sam Plaza opening into the T-wing courtyard is nearing completion.
Photo 2: On Level 2, the Office of Community Engagement (at left) is situated at the corner of Main Street and the Avenue, a new north-south thoroughfare.
Photo 3: One of the water stations in the Sam Taylor Student Commons is ready for use.
Photo 4: This Group Room on Level 1 overlooks the T-wing courtyard.
Photo 5: Final installations of fixtures took place in an all-gender washroom on Level 2 in July.
Photo 6: On Level 1, glazing, interior finishes and door frame work continued in July.
Photo 7: In September, work is near completion in one of the lactation rooms.
Photo 8: In July, work continued on the area by the elevator on Level 2 of the Avenue, including installation of floor tiles and the ceiling system.
Photo 9: In early September, the flooring is down in this Geology lab on Level 2.
Fall 2026: What's happening with the project?
Construction on the Sam Taylor Student Commons made significant progress over the summer, with work now focused on finishes throughout the space. Classrooms, student focused-spaces and other areas are increasingly taking their final shape in the former library space and G-wing.
The gendered and all-gender washrooms on Levels 1 and 2 along Main Street are expected to open in early September.
Progress is also visible along Main Street and the Student Plaza, where tile installation continues. At the Iniskim Centre entrance, finishing work is underway, while installation of the final section of exterior curtain wall is expected in early September. Roofing is now complete, with decorative flashing and some mechanical work continuing. Installation of the glass walls for the Multi-Purpose Rooms is expected to begin in mid-September.
On Level 2, lighting, ceiling tiles, A/V equipment and whiteboards are being installed, with acoustic wall panels to follow. Flooring is also going into the new geology spaces, with lab equipment scheduled to arrive this month.
As construction moves through these final stages, teams across campus are also preparing for the transition into the new space, including moves, IT and A/V readiness.
Background
Where we started
The 2016 Campus Master Plan identified the opportunity to repurpose the vacated library space in the G-wing along Main Street to create a new student centre that would also host a gathering space. With $50 million in capital funding from the provincial government and $15 million in private funding from the Don and Ruth Taylor family (the Taylor Family Foundation), this much-needed renovation converts unusable areas of the old library and Conservatory into modern and functional spaces with a student-centred purpose. The first phase of this work — four new classrooms in W-wing as well as study spaces and washrooms — is complete and being used by students.
Getting underway
The G-wing project involves the two-storey former library space along Main Street and addresses approximately 4,700 m² of programmable space, including Science & Technology labs on the first and second floors. An initial functional program — a process that aligns the space with its intended functions — led to a schematic design for the project. In 2022, the University re-engaged with the primary stakeholders, who make up the Project Users’ Group, to ensure the design still met the needs of students and employees.
In addition to the Project Users’ Group, a Steering Committee, composed of University leadership, and an Operations Committee, with representatives from Facilities Management, Finance and University Advancement, were part of this review. These groups work with Colliers Project Leaders, project managers of the G-wing renovation, Stuart Olson Construction Ltd. and the Calgary studio of DIALOG, the architectural firm that designed the space.
Revalidation: Users have their say
The Project Users’ Group — made up of representatives from the Students Division, the primary service providers in the space, as well as Facilities Management, University Advancement and others — revalidated the functional program. This group determined how we can best deliver a student-focused, integrated service delivery model in the old library space. By identifying key aspects in the student journey — from arrival to exit — they kept the focus on the most efficient, innovative and engaging way to serve our students.
This information was used to create a schematic design report that outlined the functional aspirations and translated them into a physical drawing of the space. The University reviewed the report, as well as estimated efforts to assess the project cost. The project team reviewed the estimates and implemented design revisions from the cost savings list that was developed in parallel.
The report was updated in response to feedback, and the final version submitted to the Government of Alberta in November 2023. Once this report was completed, the next phase began: detailed design work.
Design development phase
The design development phase — which finalizes layout design — lasted from November 2023 through April 2024. During design development, additional details were added to the drawings such as structural components, access, electrical, flooring and plumbing. The floor plans and elevations completed as a part of this phase provided a vision for the finished space and how it will function.
To facilitate effective user engagement during the design development phase, various working groups were established.This allowed users of the space to provide comprehensive input into the technology, furniture and finishes of the space. These G-wing committees — Technology Working Group, Furniture Working Group and Finishes Working Group — reviewed the Design Development Draft Report and provided feedback to DIALOG in order to meet the submission deadline to the Government of Alberta.
Construction phase
After construction documents reflecting the finalized design were created, tenders for the various scopes of work that make up the construction were put out and applications submitted for applicable building permits. Construction began in spring 2025.
Timeline
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Schematic design
June – November 2023
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Design development
November 2023 – April 2024
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Construction documents
April – December 2024
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Construction procurement
February – March 2025
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Construction, deficiency correction and occupancy
March 2025 – Fall 2026
Contact us
This project is overseen by Facilities Management with the leadership of the Vice-President of Finance and Administration. Email gwingrenovation@mtroyal.ca with any questions.