The USask Board said their decision was based on a few factors, including" the prohibitive cost to repair these structures, and a lack of purpose for them that would align with the university’s teaching and research mission." They also added searches for buyers and tenants came up empty. More than 160 security calls were responded to in 2024 by USask Protective Services. There have been two internal fires, broken windows, drug paraphernalia and one external fire as well. Saskatoon Fire believes people were sleeping in the unusable buildings, which have been unoccupied since 2020. (University of Saskatchewan)

Former U of S Lutheran Theological Seminary to be demolished

By CKOM News Apr 17, 2025 | 1:31 PM

The University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors have decided to demolish two properties on campus land at 113 and 114 Seminary Crescent that are unused in the next few months.

The building, at 113 Seminary Crescent, has been vacant since 2020 and has been vandalized and trespassed upon ever since. The seminary moved to a location in St. Andrew’s College building four years ago.

In a news release, the board said the historical significance of the Seminary “does not outweigh the very real and immediate risk to public safety posed by these vacant and deteriorating buildings, nor does it supersede the Board’s fiduciary responsibility.”

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The former seminary is a Brutalist modern structure designed by John Holliday Scott and was completed in 1968. Brutalist buildings showcase building materials and structural elements over decorative design. The property does not have any federally, provincially or municipally recognized heritage status.

The Board said their decision was based on a few factors, including” the prohibitive cost to repair these structures, and a lack of purpose for them that would align with the university’s teaching and research mission.” They also added searches for buyers and tenants came up empty.

More than 160 security calls were responded to in 2024 by USask Protective Services. There have been two internal fires, broken windows, drug paraphernalia and one external fire as well. Saskatoon Fire believes people were sleeping in the unusable buildings, which have been unoccupied since 2020.

After reviewing five EOIs, USask management was told by the “Architectural consulting firm Brook McIlroy that between $55 million and $60 million would be required to restore 114 Seminary Crescent to feasible use.”

The City of Saskatoon Fire Department issued orders on April 2nd, “for 113 Seminary Crescent requires the building to be repaired and operational by May of this year.”

Next up, before demolition gets underway, is to figure out how to commemorate the 60-year-old Holliday-Scott LTS buildings.

With files from 650 CKOM’s Alex Brown