A ribbon cutting doesn’t cut it: NAIT throws a big bash to show off its new architecturally stunning state-of-the-art training facility

The NAIT Spartan Centre for Instrumentation Technology and the NAIT Petro-Canada Centre for Millwright Technology will significantly increase the country’s training capacity

September 18, 2007 – The opening of the Petro-Canada Centre for Millwright Technology and the Spartan Centre for Instrumentation allows NAIT to train hundreds more apprentices each year.  

 “This is an important day for NAIT, for industry and for the sustainability of our economy,” says Dr. Sam Shaw, NAIT’s President and CEO. “There is more than $195 billion in major projects underway in Alberta requiring skilled workers.”  The new centres will increase NAIT’s training capacity for instrumentation apprentices by more than 60 per cent and by 25 per cent for millwrights.

Petro-Canada, Spartan Controls, the provincial government and NAIT joined forces to build the $39.5 million facility. Petro-Canada contributed $2 million, while Spartan gave $3 million in equipment, along with a promise to keep the equipment current for the next 10 years.  “It took leadership and vision to build these centres, to recognize the important role NAIT’s growth plays in addressing the skilled labour shortage,” says Dr. Shaw.  “Business and industry should be commended.”

“We are pleased and excited about the opening of a new world-class instrumentation education facility right here in Alberta”, says Mike Begin, President and CEO of Spartan Controls. “The NAIT Spartan Centre will provide students with leading edge process control technology and experience. Spartans are proud to be working with NAIT and other post-secondary institutes, fellow industry stakeholders, and government to help solve the challenges of developing and expanding a skilled workforce.”

Ron Brenneman, Petro-Canada’s President and Chief Executive Officer states that “NAIT has an aggressive vision to meet the needs of our vibrant economy and it continues to provide us with graduates with superior trade and technical skills.  This is a key partnership for us and one we are proud to champion.”

The new building has about 10,000 square metres of program space, but students’ training isn’t confined to a classroom or lab. The building’s mechanical areas and mechanical distribution systems are visible to everyone. “The areas are exposed to celebrate the work of the trades we teach,” says Jack Menduk, NAIT’s Director of Capital Projects and Facilities Operations.

The showpieces of the instrumentation facility are two large distillation labs that simulate a refinery. ”The labs are two stories high and surrounded by glass. At night they are illuminated for effect and can be seen from Princess Elizabeth Avenue,” says Menduk.

The building’s design is industrial to simulate the environment graduates will be working in, but it also has some eye-catching architectural features. ” The atrium is three stories high with a two sided gas fireplace in the center,” says Menduk. “The area also includes some creative indirect lighting. Large white panels are mounted on the ceiling to reflect natural light into the area. “

The building housing both centres was finished on time and on budget. “That is quite an accomplishment in an economy plagued by overruns and delays,” says Menduk.

NAIT is one of the largest institutes of technology in Canada, providing education in business, advanced technologies and skilled trades to more than 86,500 students annually at eight campuses in Alberta. Overall, the Institute offers some 250 programs and over 1,000 continuing education courses. Each year, about 4,000 graduates receive applied degrees, diplomas and certificates and more than 2,000 apprentices complete their technical training component for journeyman certification.

The Institute is the largest apprenticeship trainer in Canada, providing training to 50 per cent of trades people in Alberta and 17 per cent nationally. NAIT also delivers 36 different apprenticeship programs and is the sole provider in Alberta for 15 of these trades.

About Spartan Controls

Spartan Controls sells, applies and services products that measure, control, and automate processes for the process industries in Western Canada. Dedicated to delivering great service and value, Spartan serves the oil and gas, power, pulp and paper, mining, chemical, water treatment and other process industries.  As well, Spartan continually invests to provide differentiated local support for their customers.   Information on the company is available at www.spartancontrols.com.