The University of Saskatchewan has created something new in terms of campus amenities – a dual brand hotel which combines the offering of both short-term guest rooms and long-stay accommodation.
The Holiday Inn Express/Staybridge Inn and Suites facility developed by PR Hotels and designed by Calnitsky Associates Architects opened for guests this past November on the Saskatoon campus.
“It was in 2016 that we first noticed the nationally advertised call for proposals in the Globe and Mail,” says architect Ed Calnitsky of Calnitsky Associates Architects. “PR Hotels took the initiative to respond, and in association with Lawrence and Patricia Rychjohn, and Jeff Krivoshen of PR Hotels, we developed a number of design concepts for the campus site. We were fortunate that our proposal was selected.”
Calnitsky founded Calnitsky Associates Architects in 1986. The Winnipeg-based architectural firm has a lengthy track record when it comes to hotel design and construction. Over the years, Calnitsky Associates Architects has been involved in numerous hotel projects for clients such as Lakeview Hotels and Canada Inns – both based out of Winnipeg, Lexstar Developments in Fargo, North Dakota, and PR Hotels for whom they have designed hotels in both Saskatchewan and Kelowna, B.C.
The firm’s experience also extends to designing hotels for many of the major industry players, including the Radisson Hotel Group, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Ramada International, and Best Western International Inc.
It was PR Hotels in partnership with Normandale Holdings Ltd. (both Saskatchewan-based companies) working together under the banner of College Hotels LP which secured the contract to build the new nine-storey dual brand hotel at the Saskatoon Campus.
“The University of Saskatchewan leadership recognized the need for long term accommodation for visiting researchers and lecturers as well as short-term lodgings for people coming for conferences, athletes, parents or other members of the public,” Calnitsky says.
“There are virtually no hotels located close to the university. The university sought out private sector expertise, and P.R. Hotels working with Calnitsky Associates Architects put together the proposal for the dual brand hotel.”
Under the terms of the agreement, the university provides a long term lease on the property while PR Hotels is responsible for the hotel project’s capital and operating costs. Calnitsky reports that the Holiday Inn Express has 123 mid-to-upper scale guest rooms while the 97-room Staybridge Suites incorporates kitchen facilities in each suite.
“Because the top floor of the hotel overlooks the University of Saskatchewan Huskies playing field, we incorporated a penthouse level lounge and viewing area in our design which allows guests to watch the games below from the comfort of the hotel,” he points out.
The hotel complex on the Saskatoon campus is the first such hotel project in Saskatchewan and one of the first in Canada, Calnitsky notes.
“There are other similar projects currently in the works,” he adds.
The hotel project is the first component of an ambitious development plan on the campus. In addition to an adjacent newly constructed twin-pad ice arena and athletic field, the new College Quarter is envisaged to one day include commercial, office, retail and residential properties.
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