By: Natalie Lim

This year, SFU Facilities Services is more eager than usual for spring to reach SFU’s Burnaby campus.

Since 2018, one of their teams has been hard at work replacing the entire surface of the AQ, and they just celebrated a huge milestone. Phase 1 of the AQ Plaza Renewal project, which focused on the AQ 4000 level and the stairs and walkways around Convocation Mall, is officially complete. 

AQ upgrades include landscaping, waterproofing, improved accessibility 

The AQ’s original flooring was laid in 1965 and only designed to last 50 years. By the time construction started in late 2018, poor drainage on the tiling was causing leaks and large puddles, making the concourse difficult to navigate. 

James Bremner, project manager for the plaza renewal, realizes that news of waterproof tiling in the AQ will not excite most of the SFU community, but he notes that this project involves more than just tiles. The project team has added raised gardens and modern wood benches to make the space more welcoming, and integrated ramps into the AQ’s design for better accessibility. 

“Out towards Strand Hall, it used to be this boring rock area. With the gardens and furniture we’re putting in, it will be more in tune with the surroundings and a much more inviting space for the campus community to enjoy,” says Bremner.

Phase 2 of the project to wrap up this fall

The project team continues to work on Phase 2, which is already well underway. Phase 2 construction focuses on Convocation Mall and the Transportation Centre, extending from the AQ through to the West Mall Centre. While the AQ’s grand staircase was renovated as part of Phase 1, it is currently closed to accommodate Phase 2 work in Freedom Square.

Work on Convocation Mall is expected to finish ahead of convocation this June, and the remaining areas in and around the Transportation Centre will be completed in the fall. Throughout both phases of the plaza renewal, the project team has met regularly with the convocation team to plan around construction and minimize impacts to the ceremony.

Construction in the AQ faced many challenges 

Phase 1 of the renewal project encountered many challenges due to the AQ’s age and the construction’s proximity to the hub of the Burnaby campus. 

Because of the AQ’s central location, it was a challenge to minimize disturbances to students, staff and faculty. Consultants and work crews put in long hours to develop and execute a plan for mitigating impacts on community members studying and working in adjacent buildings.

The team at Facilities Services understands that noise, re-routing and construction zones are disruptive to those working and learning at SFU, and thank the community for their patience during this time of renewal on the Burnaby campus.

Building community at SFU 

For his part, Bremner is eager to see people using the newly landscaped areas once spring finally arrives on Burnaby mountain. 

“This is definitely a project where you can see the improvement of the space just by going to the site and looking at it,” he says.

“Now there are real points of interest for people to occupy, hold events and be social. Come the warmer months, it’ll be a great place to hang out.”

If you have feedback or questions about the Plaza Renewal project, you can contact James Bremner, project manager, at james_bremner@sfu.ca. 

For more information about construction projects underway at SFU, visit the Facilities Services website.