New U of C campus set to open downtown

Downtown Calgary will take on a new look a week Monday.

The University of Calgary will be opening its new west-end campus.

Continuing Education courses in business and professional development begin next week in an old medical building that was renovated over the summer.

Eventually, the $1-million refurbishment at the six storey building will be the new home to 500 students, teachers and administrators.  Courses from the Haskayne School of Business and the Canada School of Energy Environment will be offered at the campus.

There's a belief the new campus, and its young intellectuals, will re-invigorate an area of the core known for crime.

Alderman John Marr tells the Calgary Herald, it's been an area known for safety and security concerns.  

Ironically, the original plans for the downtown campus were for an area with similar concerns: the East Village.  But the University couldn't get the private and public funding it needed.