Historic provincial investment launches construction of NAIT’s Advanced Skills Centre

  • May 11, 2026
  • 2 minute read
Five professionals standing around a 3D image of NAIT's Advanced Skills Centre


NAIT is welcoming a historic $384 million capital investment from the Government of Alberta to build the Advanced Skills Centre (ASC).  The landmark project will significantly expand the institution’s ability to increase training capacity and help address Alberta’s skilled labour shortage. 

Increased training capacity

Once complete, the ASC will increase NAIT’s training capacity to more than 15,000 trades and technology students each year. 

Modern, multi-storey institutional building with a mix of glass, white, and red-brown exterior panels, featuring large angular overhangs and expansive windows. The view shows the east entrance from a street corner, with a sidewalk, landscaped trees, and a few pedestrians nearby.

Addressing the skilled labour shortage

According to Employment and Social Development Canada, nearly 700,000 skilled trades professionals are set to retire across the country by 2028. 

A nationwide shortage means Alberta cannot rely on workers from other provinces to meet the need. 

Skilled trades training is more urgent than ever, as the country faces persistent labour shortages across construction, energy, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. 

Building the Advanced Skills Centre 

The 625,000 square foot facility (equivalent to 36 NHL sized ice surfaces) will be located on NAIT’s Main Campus on 106 Street, just north of 118 Avenue. It will house 29 trades and technology programs across:

  • construction 
  • transportation 
  • manufacturing 
  • energy 

The transformational facility will feature flexible and collaborative learning environments that mirror real work sites, ensuring students are prepared to enter the workplace.  

Modern, multi-storey institutional building with a mix of glass, white, and red-brown exterior panels, featuring large angular overhangs and expansive windows. The view shows the south plaza from a street entrance, with a sidewalk, landscaped trees and a few pedestrians nearby.

Following a competitive procurement process, NAIT selected PCL Construction as the construction manager for the project.  

Aerial view of a large cleared construction site on a campus, surrounded by academic buildings, parking areas, and streets, with Edmonton’s downtown skyline visible in the distance under an overcast sky.

A shared investment

The project is a shared investment between the Government of Alberta and NAIT. The $384 million dollar commitment from the province in Budget 2026 builds on previous planning and design funding approved in Budget 2024.

NAIT is funding its portion of the ASC through internal resource allocation and support from donors and industry partners. 

Early construction activity is set to begin in spring 2026, with the ASC expected to welcome its first cohort of students in fall 2030. 

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