The John Ware Building at SAIT has served the School of Hospitality and Tourism since 1958. Phase 1 of its revitalization, completed in 2018, addressed nearly six decades of deferred envelope and infrastructure work — modernizing the building’s exterior and setting the foundation for the full interior transformation to follow.
Custom Electric delivered the electrical and utility infrastructure upgrades as part of a scope that also included a new building envelope, recladding with modern curtain wall systems, and main entrance renovations. Construction proceeded while the campus remained fully operational, requiring careful phasing and coordination to maintain safety and minimize disruption to students and faculty.
The $20.7 million Phase 1 project was designed by GGA Architecture and executed with the building in continuous use — a constraint that defined the approach from start to finish.