Regina Construction IV

[The mayor]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Huge news reported last night of a 500,000 square foot data centre to be built by Bell just south of Polytech in the RM. Big tax revenue for the RM and lots of revenue for SaskPower. Fantastic for the Regina area.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saska...gina-9.7083484
Bell plans to build artificial intelligence data centre near Regina, RM documents show

Construction of 1st building in new campus will be expedited in 2026, according to documents

The application highlights a plan for "300 plus" parking stalls, suggesting the workforce could be large.

The campus will include a SaskPower substation to provide the required power for the data centre, as well as an unspecified number of "interconnected low-rise data centre buildings."

Bell Canada to launch 6 AI data centres in B.C.
AI-related data centres use vast amounts of water. But gauging how much is a murky business
The project will be built in multiple phases, and will include a potential research partnership with the University of Regina for a "sustainable development of greenhouses that reclaim heat generated by the data centres," according to the application.

It will also be designed to "meet or exceed" all environmental and regulatory requirements.

Phase 1 of the project will involve constructing an 8,500-square-metre building, "which we expect to expedite in 2026," the application reads.

Other government agencies, universities weigh in

The City of Regina has been made aware of the proposal, and waived a requirement for a concept and secondary plan for the rezoning application, according to the package of documents.
The campus will consist of 160 acres of land and have significant jobs
This new campus will be great news for Regina

[The mayor]

Originally Posted by gecho111

Construction trailer and some construction fencing at the aquatic centre site. Also handful of bars poking out of the ground. Not sure how long that's been there. Took a picture with my phone, probably should have just use the drone. Parliament Ave Coop gas station building up, working on the carwash foundation.

I might head out east tomorrow. The primary / secondary roads are clear enough I should be able to use my mountain bike. The residential roads are wicked icy. I usually stick to those in the winter, but at the moment they are almost too ice for the studded tires on my fat bike.

Modified the downtown orbit program to be closer to what I originally planned. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Guqf9zNI2s

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reginaconstruction/

Hopefully, the pool will start construction soon

[gecho111]

Originally Posted by The mayor

Hopefully, the pool will start construction soon

Not opening until 2029 so plenty of time to make up for a few lost months.

[Stormer]

The sleepy SE corner of Regina at the end of Wascana Parkway is waking up big time with the the huge LTC facility, the U of R's plan to develop the community gardens and now the massive Bell project.

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by Stormer

The sleepy SE corner of Regina at the end of Wascana Parkway is waking up big time with the the huge LTC facility, the U of R's plan to develop the community gardens and now the massive Bell project.

Isn't that datacentre quite a ways out?

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by pappcam

Isn't that datacentre quite a ways out?

It touches the City limits and is 1/2 mile from Wascana Parkway. Kitty-corner from the new LTC build.

[gecho111]

Didn't the city / RM make a joint development agreement for that area? I wonder if the city can veto building an industrial scale data center on the doorstep of future prime residential area. Out near the GTH would be a better area, they'd have access to that new industrial water line.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by gecho111

Didn't the city / RM make a joint development agreement for that area? I wonder if the city can veto building an industrial scale data center on the doorstep of future prime residential area.

According to the materials filed at the RM, the City has waived these requirements already. Why wouldn't the City want this there? It provides jobs and for citizens and economic activity for the region. Other than maybe the GTH there is not enough land in the City limits to accommodate this. Also according to the RM docs, it does not rely on City infrastructure.

[gecho111]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Why wouldn't the City want this there?

If the city is going to expand in that direction noise pollution from hundreds of HVAC fans and compressors will be an issue with it that close. Especially if they decide they need more power and start running natural gas turbines. Push it all the way south next to the bypass for more of a buffer.

People in the Greens / Eastbrook complain about their proximity to AGT, no need to create new problems.

[The mayor]

Originally Posted by gecho111

If the city is going to expand in that direction noise pollution from hundreds of HVAC fans and compressors will be an issue with it that close. Especially if they decide they need more power and start running natural gas turbines. Push it all the way south next to the bypass for more of a buffer.

People in the Greens / Eastbrook complain about their proximity to AGT, no need to create new problems.

People complain about anything it doesn’t matter what it is even if it’s great news for the city but on the other hand, there’s a lot of people who applaud it

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by gecho111

If the city is going to expand in that direction noise pollution from hundreds of HVAC fans and compressors will be an issue with it that close. Especially if they decide they need more power and start running natural gas turbines. Push it all the way south next to the bypass for more of a buffer.

People in the Greens / Eastbrook complain about their proximity to AGT, no need to create new problems.

That area is not in the City's Long Term (500k) Growth Plan. Air conditioners are not very noisy. Seems like an ideal location to me.

[The mayor]

https://www.ckom.com/2026/02/11/jobs...na-take-shape/
Jobs, research benefits touted as plans for data centre near Regina take shape

By Geoff Smith
Feb 11, 2026 | 10:42 AM
Construction on a data centre campus on the southeastern outskirts of Regina could begin as early as this year.

Documents filed with the R.M. of Sherwood request rezoning of the site from agricultural to light industrial. The application was requested by a numbered company, but submissions from Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the University of Regina identified the proponent as Bell Canada.
In a letter to the R.M., the numbered company proposing the project said it’s being planned in phases, and the project would ultimately consist of several interconnected low-rise data centre buildings totalling around 500,000 square feet, along with administrative buildings adding up to nearly 50,000 square feet.

A map showing the proposed site for a data centre outside of Regina. SaskTel also interested in data centre potential
The proposal by Bell isn’t the only interest in the possible future of AI data centres in Saskatchewan.

In August 2025, Crown telecom provider SaskTel issued a request for prequalification for a tier-III data centre for artificial intelligence workloads.

The request seeks to find companies that have already built or are building a data centre of a similar type.

In an email, SaskTel said it was investigating the potential of building an AI data centre, but no firm plans have been made.

[Stormer]

If you were wondering about the why they chose that location for the data centre, just taka look at the high voltage lines coming up from Estevan.


https://www.ckom.com/2026/02/11/jobs...na-take-shape/

[gecho111]

There will be a second building at the Neville Drive site connected to what is built now. The plan shows a red line between them labelled F/W, so maybe a concrete block firewall.

The mosque near Vic & Park was under construction again when I rode past there today. Firehall in the Greens construction started, just pushing mud around so far.

This apartment complex was fully torn down when I rode past it yesterday. https://maps.app.goo.gl/e8ndR6DyNPtXq3N77

The handful of piles at the aquatic centre look like they've been there a while. Maybe they started working before they realized they needed a zoning variance before they could get a permit.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reginaconstruction/

[TannerF]

Originally Posted by Stormer

If you were wondering about the why they chose that location for the data centre, just taka look at the high voltage lines coming up from Estevan.


https://www.ckom.com/2026/02/11/jobs...na-take-shape/

Rowatt Switching station should be able to also send power there from Moose Jaw and Poplar River soon.

https://engage.saskpower.com/regina-...-reinforcement

[Stormer]

The objects in the centre of those pilings at the aquatic centre site look like capped wells to me. I am guessing those are related to the geothermal system.

I believe that demoed apartment complex had fire?

[gecho111]

Originally Posted by Stormer

The objects in the centre of those pilings at the aquatic centre site look like capped wells to me. I am guessing those are related to the geothermal system.

I believe that demoed apartment complex had fire?

Almost 2 years ago now. The side facing Pasqua was demolished, and streetview shows the Wascana Street side boarded up last year.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saska...-cbc-1.7180090

[The mayor]

Originally Posted by Stormer

If you were wondering about the why they chose that location for the data centre, just taka look at the high voltage lines coming up from Estevan.


https://www.ckom.com/2026/02/11/jobs...na-take-shape/

The campus will also include a future commercial/industrial development on approximately 14.4 hec (or 35.35 acres) along Park Street Road, which may include a research partnership with the University of Regina to develop greenhouses that reclaim heat generated by the data centers.

Bell had filed through 102226744 Saskatchewan Ltd. References are made, however, to “Bell Canada’s proposed AI data center campus in the RM of Sherwood” in the documents.

[Kegger]

Originally Posted by Stormer

According to the materials filed at the RM, the City has waived these requirements already. Why wouldn't the City want this there? It provides jobs and for citizens and economic activity for the region. Other than maybe the GTH there is not enough land in the City limits to accommodate this. Also according to the RM docs, it does not rely on City infrastructure.

Doesn't rely on city infrastructure but how do the workers get to work each day? I assume there is no transit link. Which roads are they taking to work? City roads? How does that impact city traffic patterns? Or are all the workers living outside the city?

I don't know enough about the location to have an opinion. I am not against the project. However, as a city taxpayer I would like to know just how this new business just outside the city doesn't cost ratepayers anything.

[UrbanClimate]

Originally Posted by Stormer

The sleepy SE corner of Regina at the end of Wascana Parkway is waking up big time with the the huge LTC facility, the U of R's plan to develop the community gardens and now the massive Bell project.

I suppose we could add to this list Western Canada’s first small modular reactor testing centre, planned for University of Regina's Research and Technology Park.


Artist rendition of a small modular reactor. (Graphic courtesy: SaskPower)

https://www.westcentralonline.com/ar...testing-centre