UNews - Gene Lublinkhof

Lethbridge-based Ward Bros. Construction selected to renovate Southern Alberta Medical Program teaching facility

caroline.zentner — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 21:18:09 +0000

Ward Bros. Construction has been selected to renovate the Centre for Community Wellbeing (CCW), on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge campus, which will house the new Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP). An innovative partnership between the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) and ULethbridge, SAMP offers students the opportunity to earn a UCalgary medical degree while completing their training in southern Alberta.

Ward Bros. is a family-owned firm with experience delivering education and community infrastructure across southern Alberta. Its portfolio includes commercial and industrial projects, new and modernized school facilities and major civic landmarks such as the Prairie Winds Secondary School and Coaldale’s recently completed Shift Community Recreation Centre.

“We’re pleased to be working with Ward Bros., a trusted local contractor with deep roots in southern Alberta,” says Gene Lublinkhof, Director of Major Construction Projects at ULethbridge. “Their experience and community ties make them an ideal partner for this important transformation.”

The 5,000 square metre, purpose-designed space for medical education will include teaching areas, an anatomy lab and a new clinic to support hands-on learning. The reimagined CCW will serve as the central hub for SAMP and the space within which the next generation of physicians will learn, grow and be trained to serve their communities.

Once complete, the renovation, supported by the Government of Alberta’s $43-million investment, will expand the province’s distributed medical-education capacity and support efforts to address physician shortages in rural and underserved areas.

Science Commons first ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge building to earn LEED Gold status for environmental standards

trevor.kenney — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 20:14:20 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has struck gold with the new Science Commons building — achieving LEED Gold status for the first time in its history and further solidifying its commitment to employing environmentally sustainable practices in its construction and operation of campus buildings.

The Wintergarden is heated and cooled naturally by fresh air and a glassed, south facing facade.

“During the design and construction phases of Science Commons there was a very intentional and significant emphasis on sustainable planning,” says Gene Lublinkhof, director, Campus Development. “Having previously achieved LEED Silver status on the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness, the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building (AWESB) and Markin Hall (Dhillon School of Business and Faculty of Health Sciences), we have consistently incorporated sustainability practices into both the construction and ongoing operation of our new buildings. To now achieve a gold standing with Science Commons is testament to what we have learned over the years and our commitment to leading the way in sustainability efforts.”

Lublinkhof says the design group (KPMB/Stantec Architects) investigated numerous options around energy generation and conservation and ultimately focussed its efforts on how to achieve long-term sustainability during the operational life of the building.

“The question we asked consistently was how can we use the least energy and operational effort possible while still providing our occupants the highest quality and safest interior environmental conditions?”

Some examples of sustainability features and practices incorporated into Science Commons include:

• Double exterior façade and automated opening windows. This natural ventilation strategy allows building operators to program the windows to open and close to respond to exterior conditions, thereby reducing the energy required for mechanical systems to heat or cool air.

• Automated low flow fume hoods

• Heat recovery technology to reuse thermal energy as it leaves the building to pre-heat or cool incoming air (depending on season)

• Waterless washroom fixtures

• Recirculating cooling system that routes coolant to more energy-intensive scientific instrumentation

• Daylight intensity lighting controls

• Construction strategies to select regionally sourced materials, utilization of low emission adhesives and paints, and reduction of composite materials off-gassing

• PCL Construction separated all construction waste into categories and tracked all outgoing debris to either be recycled or disposed of responsibly

• Continued implementation and enhancement of green caretaking and storage and collection of recyclables previously established in LEED silver projects and utilized throughout campus

Lublinkhof notes the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ employed a number of business strategies that, while not mandated by LEED, significantly enhanced the building’s sustainability. One such strategy resulted in an award for Lethbridge’s SMP Engineering.

“We recognized LED lighting technology was advancing quickly and prices were falling,” says Lublinkhof. “Understanding there would be significant time between lighting design and actual fixture installation, we held off on selecting the fixtures until the last possible minute, giving us the most up-to-date lighting technology at the best possible cost.”

In the end, the Lethbridge office of SMP Engineering earned a province-wide honour, the DE Frost Award for Lighting Excellence.

“The integrated sustainable design strategies we conceptualized in 2015 are now paying dividends and Science Commons is a proud achievement for our entire team and our university,” adds Lublinkhof. “Our focus now turns to repurposing ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall. It was built when sustainability wasn’t even a consideration, and as we renovate and restore interior finishes in the vacated laboratory spaces, we have the opportunity to look towards the future and transform an iconic building into an energy efficient and modern facility.”

What is LEED?

LEED refers to Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design and uses 60-plus criteria to gauge the ability of a project to meet rigorous environmental standards established by the Canada Green Building Council in seven major categories. These categories include sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation in design, and regional priority. Each project must apply for LEED status and, after being judged, is rated on a point scale.

Exhaust stacks removed from ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall

trevor.kenney — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 20:42:00 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall had a little taken off the top this past week. Call it a crew cut reminiscent of the style of its original look from 1971, the year the iconic Arthur Erickson designed building was completed — the exhaust stacks are gone.

The clean lines of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall have been reclaimed.

A total of 27 stacks were erected over the years as necessary updates to ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall to meet modern laboratory ventilation standards and provide a safe work environment primarily in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s biology and chemistry labs. When the sciences moved into the new Science Commons facility in September 2019, one of the first orders of business was to decommission the stacks and take them down.

“The removal of the exhaust stacks was envisioned early in the design process for Science Commons,” says Gene Lublinkhof, director of Campus Development. “The stacks were necessary but I’m not sure anyone could honestly say they looked great, so we are pleased to see them taken down.”

Removing the stacks is more than symbolic, it marks the starting point of the second phase of the Destination Project, which includes the redevelopment of spaces within the original ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall.

A before look of the many stacks that adorned the roof of the iconic building.

“The building is testament to civic and university leadership’s bold vision to establish a comprehensive liberal arts university in southern Alberta,” adds Lublinkhof. “It set the tone and established the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as a permanent and important institution for our region.”

Recently, the provincial government made a $20-million commitment to the renewal of the central heating and cooling plant within ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall, a crucial step in the rehabilitation of the building. The new plant replaces one far past its life expectancy and will greatly enhance the energy sustainability of the U of L, ensuring continued reliability of the campus infrastructure.

“With the 50th anniversary of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall’s opening approaching, we are excited to work on revitalization plans of what really is a Lethbridge landmark,” adds Lublinkhof of the world-renowned building. “While we have had strong maintenance strategies throughout the years, and continually upgraded to meet building and fire codes, we still face a number of challenges as we embark on this rehabilitation plan, simply with some of the original mechanical and electrical systems being 50 years old.”

Much needs to be done before that work begins, including the establishment of a master plan for the now open spaces. For now, purists can revel in the return of the flat top to Erickson’s iconic work.

Wellness Centre ready for summer projects

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:55:33 +0000

The 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness has been a welcome modern addition to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Physical Education building, but not much has changed to the core of the nearly 40-year-old facility. That will change over the summer as the PE building gets a facelift.

Beginning in early May, the existing mechanical and electrical systems will be upgraded, as well as some much needed renovations to several areas of Levels 0, 1 and 2.

"It'll be a much more comfortable facility in terms of climate. It's going to be significantly brighter," says project manager Jason Baranec.

The interior of the old Physical Education Building will be brought up to standards with the new section of the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

Aside from a few minor restorations, the PE building hasn't changed since the 1970s when it was first built. When complete, the renovations will reflect the Wellness Centre, creating a more cohesive environment.

"The driver for this project is the mechanical, electrical and infrastructure upgrades, and then we're doing what we can architecturally to make it look as though the Wellness Centre and the PE building were all built at the same time," says Baranec.

Renovations include new doors and exteriors to the southeast, southwest and northeast entrances, and linear solar tubes, similar to skylights, which will illuminate the main concrete staircase in the PE building.

"It achieves the same purpose as a skylight except without having to cut too much concrete," says Baranec. "There's going to be a lot of natural daylight."

The kinesiology research labs on Level 2 will also be updated with new paint, lighting and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems. Offices on the same level will receive new flooring in addition to the upgrades. Room PE250 will get new windows, and PE275 will see new carpet and millwork. Day-use change rooms on Level 1 will also get an overhaul. The addition of "info walls" which integrate seating and bulletin boards will provide more gathering spaces in the building.

The majority of the work is expected to be complete before the start of classes in September.

The project was made possible with a $5.6 million grant from the Alberta government.

New access points will be created, including ramp access, to the southwest entrance.

The creation of a new sports medicine clinic is another construction highlight happening in the Wellness Centre this summer.

The clinic will be located in the PE100 space below the south end of the running track. Once complete, it will house up to four physicians and associated support staff. The space will feature physiotherapy and exam rooms, treatment areas and doctor's offices.

Project Manager Gene Lublinkhof says the clinic has always been in the plans for the Centre.

"There was space allotted for it from day one," he says.

As with the PE building renovations, the clinic's design will also reflect the rest of the Wellness Centre façade. Construction is slated to begin in May, with completion anticipated in the fall.

Although construction on both projects will be ongoing throughout the summer, arrangements have been made to cease work during Convocation and the Alberta Summer Games to avoid disruption.

For more information call Baranec at 403-329-2703, or email jason.baranec@uleth.ca. Lublinkhof can be reached at 403-380-1869 or gene.lublinkhof@uleth.ca

This story first appeared in the May issue of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - Gene Lublinkhof

Lethbridge-based Ward Bros. Construction selected to renovate Southern Alberta Medical Program teaching facility

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