This new hub will open in the 2023-24 school year in a Calgary building recently purchased by the Alberta government.

The SMART Technologies building at the University of Calgary Research Park will initially accommodate up to 1,200 students from three public charter schools. Within five years, the facility is expected to house about 2,000 students from four or more public charter schools. The new hub will provide charters with the opportunity to work collaboratively to deliver unique and innovative educational programming in the state-of-the-art facility.

“Every student in Alberta deserves to receive a high-quality education that best fits their unique interests, learning style and needs. Ensuring spaces are available for students to enhance their creativity and knowledge in various fields will benefit our education system for years to come.”

Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education

“Investing in priority school projects is critical. The purchase and renovation of the SMART Technologies building to create a public charter school hub in Calgary will ensure local students have access to world-class learning facilities while creating jobs that help to stimulate our economy.”

Nathan Neudorf, Minister of Infrastructure

The SMART Technologies building encompasses more than 200,000 square feet of space over six floors. It is currently configured as office space and will be renovated to accommodate students before the coming school year.

The public charter school hub model supports the shared use of specialized spaces, such as career and technology studies and science labs.

To support the creation of new public charter schools, up to 200 student spaces at the facility will be reserved for newly created public charter schools to receive support from other public charter schools located in the hub.

“I have the honour of launching this first hub – hopefully the first of many. We are grateful to the minister and her team for their tireless efforts to ensure equity for all providers in the public education system. Our students, and thus all Albertans, will benefit from this investment long into the future.”

Ron Koper, chair, The Association of Alberta Public Charter Schools

Quick facts   

  • Currently most public charter schools occupy buildings that were built in the 1950s and 1960s. Students will now be able to learn in updated, modernized spaces.
  • Budget 2023 commits $171 million over the next three years to support public charter school infrastructure, including investment in the public charter school hub in Calgary.
  • The purchase of the SMART Technologies building by the Government of Alberta was finalized in April 2023.
  • The building will be renovated and leased to a not-for-profit society representing the public charter schools located at the hub.