Qu'Appelle Hall (Saskatoon)

 university, dormitory

"It took the University three years, from 1910 to 1913, to complete its first group of buildings. It took nearly as long to complete the new Students' Residence, Qu'Appelle Hall, but it was worth waiting for." - Walter Murray, Annual Report 1916-1917

Originally known simply "Student’s Residence No. 2," the name "Qu'Appelle Hall" was first mentioned in the minutes of the Board’s executive committee in September 1916. Intended as a men’s residence, the building included a swimming pool, with lockers purchased from the YMCA, and the dining hall was immediately put to use as a gymnasium–facilities "rendering the Physical Training, which all must take, a pleasure not a penance."

As well as student quarters, Qu’Appelle Hall was used to provide office space and a place for a museum. Normal School (Education) used the first floor; some language classes were also taught there. In 1917 part of the building was used by Emmanuel students while returned soldiers studying Engineering used their building; and in the 1930s, the COTC was quartered in the north end of the Qu’Appelle Hall basement. The building was used for classes and offices until construction of the Arts building in 1960.

Designed by Brown and Vallance, construction began on Qu’Appelle Hall in 1914 but was sporadic. Delays meant that some building material was subject to the war tax, an additional 5%; and over the winter of 1915 frost damaged the swimming pool, another of many unforeseen expenses. The building was finally completed in 1916, at a cost of $250,000.

The swimming pool was closed when the Physical Education addition was completed in 1964. In the mid-1980s, the pool was capped and filled with concrete. It now serves as storage space for the University Bookstore.