Newly renovated Nutrien Lecture Theatre opens in USask’s College of Engineering

Engineering students at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have begun the academic year with a modern learning space as the college celebrates the grand opening of the Nutrien Lecture Theatre.

The theatre, supported through Nutrien’s transformational $15-million gift to USask’s Be What the World Needs campaign last year, features improved accessibility, enhanced acoustics, and movable walls and seating to support teaching and learning excellence for years to come.

“We are grateful for our longstanding partnership with Nutrien. From mentorship and capstone projects to co-op work placements, research, and helping build the careers of our alumni, Nutrien is a valued partner,” said Dr. Michael Bradley (PhD), dean of the College of Engineering. “The opening of the Nutrien Lecture Theatre marks an exciting chapter for our college, creating a modern space where our students can learn, connect and collaborate, and where the engineers who will help shape the future of Saskatchewan and Canada can learn and grow.”

Centred in the heart of the Engineering Building, the Nutrien Lecture Theatre will be used by nearly every engineering student enrolled at USask, along with hundreds of other students from across campus. The original lecture theatre (room 1B71), built in 1982, has been a hallmark of the Engineering Building for decades. The renovated theatre accommodates 116 seats and, together with the William Martin Backlund Classroom on the second floor, marks the first significant renovations to the Engineering Building in the past three decades.

The redesigned space features contemporary accessibility, safety, and barrier-free design standards, ensuring students and instructors can fully participate in the learning environment.

Key enhancements include:

• Integration of universal design practices to ensure access and participation for all learners and instructors;
• A reconfiguration to increase the usable space in the theatre from 173 square meters to 225 square meters;
• New fixed tables and movable seating to facilitate collaborative group work;
• Improved acoustics;
• A stair lift to support those with mobility issues;
• Movable glazed walls that bring natural light into the space and allow the room to open into the adjacent corridor for special events; and
• Modern audio-visual technology to support both in-person and hybrid learning.

USask and Nutrien share a longstanding partnership of supporting education, research, innovation, and global impact, with Nutrien contributing more than $50 million to various university projects and initiatives since the 1970s.

“For decades, the University of Saskatchewan has helped prepare talented engineers who contribute to our industry and our province,” said Bill Cooper, senior director, strategic external affairs at Nutrien. “We’re proud to support a space that enhances the student experience and helps prepare future graduates to solve complex challenges and drive innovation.”

Along with the renovated theatre, Nutrien’s campaign gift is also funding the Nutrien Engineering Scholarship, Bursary, and Extended Learning Fund, which will provide $100,000 annually to support 20 students through awards that will help them develop the skills, knowledge, and experiences needed to become the engineering leaders of the future.

“Engineering students are excited about the new space. Thanks to the support of Nutrien, we have a modern lecture theatre," said Rudi Kerlis, a chemical engineering student and the president of the Saskatoon Engineering Students’ Society. “The Nutrien Lecture Theatre has been a welcome addition to the Engineering Building, serving as a great venue for our academic pursuits, such as lectures and tutorials, as well as a great presentation and gathering space for the growing number of student groups at USask Engineering.”

The renovated space also celebrates the college’s history with the installment of a restored 26-foot-by-seven-foot painting by Augustus Kenderdine depicting Saskatoon’s Broadway Bridge. The artwork was restored by Fraser / Spafford-Ricci: Art and Archival Conservation in partnership with the Engineering Project Management Office and the USask Art Galleries and Collections.