The Physical Education Building was constructed from 1948 to 1949 as part of the $2.5 million Varsity Expansion Program. Built at a cost of $235,000, the centre was designed by F. J. Martin and built by Shannon Brothers Construction. The frame of the building was constructed from a double RCAF hangar erected at Dafoe, probably in 1940, and subsequently moved to Saskatoon in 1948. The Physical Education Building was unofficially opened on 10 February, 1950 for the annual basketball game against the University of Alberta, which the Huskies lost 27-36.

The completion of the building meant that the University of Saskatchewan finally possessed a real physical education and athletics centre after decades of makeshift facilities. The Main Gym floor consisted of three basketball courts and six badminton courts. The main basketball floor was the only regulation size basketball floor in Saskatchewan at the time. The building also contained dressing rooms, lockers, showers, drying rooms, boxing and wrestling rooms, and space for offices. In 1959 a dance studio was added to the building.

A pool addition was built by Shoquist Construction from 1963 to 1964 for $898,254. The Pool Addition was designed by Black, Larson and McMillan. During the 1969-70 academic year major renovations and alterations were made to the building; an Office Addition was completed in 1988 by Dunmac General Contractors for $136,952. This addition was designed by Bergerman Solodre.

In April of 1960 Black, Larson, McMillan and Associates performed an architectural and structural appraisal of the building in preparation for expansion plans on the building. They advised that with proper maintenance the current building could be structurally sound for another 20 to 40 years. However, they warned that major renovations towards the end of this period would likely be required. Their recommendation at that time was that an entirely new complex be constructed at a cost of $2,180,000. The advantages of such a proposal were said to be obvious, as “ the building would be planned from construction in stages, to meet ultimate requirements. Proper segregation and flow would be incorporated into the building. Outside activities could be located conveniently to the building.”[1] In short, the building could be built and designed to accommodate for the changing needs of the department over time. However, these recommendations were ignored in favour of extending the existing building, which was less expensive.

On 7 December, 1997 the University, acting on consulting Engineer's reports, determined that the Physical Education Centre was no longer structurally sound. Offices were moved from the building within hours and relocated to the Williams Building on Cumberland Avenue, and the building was partially demolished in 1998.

The Place Riel Student Centre was constructed in three phases from 1976 to 1980 for a combined cost of $5,794,315. The original concept for the project had been the construction of a large freestanding building which incorporated all of the needs of the Student Centre. This plan was eventually adapted to include the use of space in the Arts Building and the Memorial Union Building (MUB) for student facilities primarily to offset construction costs. The Centre officially opened in September, 1980.

The first phase of the project involved the renovation of the Theatre Wing of the Arts Building. This was completed in 1976 for $178,080 by Smith Bros. and Wilson. It was designed by D. H. Stock and Partners. The second phase of construction involved the building of Place Riel itself. Place Riel was completed in 1979 for $3,916,235. It was designed by the architectural firm of Ferguson Folstad Friggstad and was built by Ellis Don Construction.

The final phase of construction involved the renovation of the MUB, which was again designed by Ferguson Folstad Friggstad. The renovations were completed by Bennett and White Construction in 1980. They included the demolition and removal of portions of the building, structural alterations, interior renovations, improvements to the elevator, and alterations and renovations to the Tunnel. Originally estimated at $902,688, this final phase of the project would eventually cost $1.7 million.

The completed building provided space for the Students’ Union Business Office, Sheaf Offices, commercial space for kiosks, meeting and seminar rooms, several general lounge areas, a theatre in the Arts Building, a discotheque (Louis’ Pub) in the MUB, a music listening room, a television lounge, a grad student lounge and a billiard and arcade room. Space in the building was also leased to campus radio station CJUS-FM, the Alumni Office, Student Counselling Services, a Canada Manpower Centre, the campus bookstore and food and vending services.

While construction on the complex was not begun until well into the 1970's planning for the structure actually began a decade earlier. During the 1964-65 academic year the Students’ Union recognized the need for facilities much more extensive than could be offered in the MUB. While the MUB had only been completed in 1955 an expanding student population had already made it obsolete as a central location for student activities and leisure on campus.

A Commission was established to investigate the matter and in 1964 student questionnaires and several studies were carried out. In a referendum in February, 1966 69.4% of students voted to increase a mandatory building tuition fee to $12. In 1967 the University and the Students’ Union jointly established a Project Building Committee to plan the required facilities. The University recognized its financial commitment to the project in late 1967 and included its anticipated share in the capital program request for 1968/69 and subsequent years. During the 1973-74 academic year the student body voted in favour of another increase in the annual building fee to $20.

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. 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. Designed as a men’s residence, 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. It 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. In the early 1960s the Board of Governors decided that “there should be accommodation on campus for at least one-third of the out of town students,” and authorized an addition to Qu’Appelle to house another 60 students–an increase of 50%. The $731,000 addition, designed by Izumi, Arnott and Sugiyama, was completed in 1963.

In 1990 the Huskies beat the St. Mary's Huskies of Halifax, 24-21 for their first Vanier Cup win. In 1996 the Huskies won their second championship by defeating the St. Francis Xavier X-Men 31-12. Saskatchewan won their third championship in 1998 by defeating the Concordia Stingers 24-17. All three games were played at Skydome in Toronto.

Designed by Brown and Vallance and built roughly in the shape of a capital “F,” with a dining hall and kitchen, was intended to “hold comfortably about one hundred and fifty.” In his first report, Murray noted that one wing of the building, with room for 30 people, “will be shut off from the main building and devoted to the use of the women students until their numbers force the building of a separate residence.” The dining room remained a common facility even following the construction of a second residence, Qu’Appelle Hall, and together with facilities in the Memorial Union Building, remained the main dining area for students until the construction of Marquis Hall in 1964.

St. Chad College was established in Regina in 1907 for the training of divinity students. It amalgamated with Emmanuel College and moved to the Saskatoon campus in 1964. The Chapel of St. Chad was designed by Webster, Forrester and Scott of Saskatoon and constructed in 1965 and 1966. Located between Emmanuel College and Rugby Chapel near the Wiggins Street entrance, the stone clad structure’s dominant feature is its souring roof line.

Operating from 1969 to 1975 and reporting to the Principal, the Student Liaison Office was created by the University Administration as a mechanism to monitor student activities and act as a liaison between the administration and the students.

An integral part of the University of Saskatchewan since 1910, the College of Agriculture's original mandate was to provide resident teaching, agricultural investigation, and extension services to the Province's farming community. The College offers a 4-year degree program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture (BSA) and a 2-year associate course leading to the Certificate in Agriculture (CAP). The associate or certificate course emerged as the School of Agriculture, within the College, in 1937; a full-time director was appointed in 1947 and in 1949 the School moved into new facilities in Kirk Hall, named in honour of Dr. L.E. Kirk who served as Dean between 1937 and 1947. The first courses in Agriculture were taught in the 1912-13 term. The following individuals have served as Dean: William J. Rutherford (1909-1930); Alexander Shaw (1930-1935); W.C. Murray [acting] (1935-1937); L.E. Kirk (1937-1947); V.E. Graham [acting] (1947-1948); V.E. Graham (1948-1964); W.J. White [acting] (1964-1965); W.J. White (1965-1974); J.A. Brown (1974-1984); D.A. Rennie (1984-1990); J.W.B. Stewart (1990-).

Field Husbandry was one of the original departments of the College of Agriculture. During the first decade horticulture, soils, and farm management were taught as subjects in Field Husbandry before becoming separate departments. Plant ecology also originated as a subject in Field Husbandry before becoming a separate department in 1949. The department became known for its contributions to plant breeding and work in the distribution and improvement of seed. In 1982 the departments of Crop Science (the former Department of Field Husbandry, renamed in 1962) and Plant Ecology were amalgamated; the new department was named Crop Science and Plant Ecology. In 1998 this department amalgamated with the Department of Horticulture Science to form the Department of Plant Sciences. The following have served as head of the departments relating to Plant Ecology: Department of Plant Ecology R.T. Coupland (1948-1981) Department of Crop Science and Plant Ecology H.M. Austenson (1982-1983) B.L. Harvey (1983-1995) M.D. Devine (1995-1998) Department of Plant Sciences G.L. Scoles (1998- )

Since its establishment in 1908 the College of Arts and Science has performed a dual function: it has prepared students for entry into one of the professional colleges; and it has provided students with an opportunity to become familiar with some field of language and literature, natural science, social science, or fine arts. The first classes, conducted by five professors in the fall of 1909, were presented to some 70 students in borrowed quarters in the Drinkle Block at 2nd Avenue and 21st Street. (Classes were not offered in the sciences owing to the absence of suitable facilities or equipment). The University moved to Victoria Elementary School in 1910, to Nutana Collegiate Institute in 1911, and finally to the present campus in 1912. In May 1912 seven students admitted with advanced standing (from other universities) were awarded degrees at the first graduation ceremony, held at Nutana Collegiate. On 29 April 1913, the first graduating class of twenty students received BA degrees.

The Department of Biology was established in 1913. The first professor was W.P. Thompson who would eventually become Dean of Arts and Science and President of the University. Unlike many other Canadian universities the Department of Biology at Saskatchewan remained as a single unit and strove to maintain within itself a balance among the diverse sub-disciplines rather than separating into several distinct departments. Recent research has involved environmental studies including studies of the potential effect of acid rain, mining, logging, and agriculture. The department cooperates with the College of Agriculture to provide a program of Agricultural Biology and offers Paleobiology in conjunction with the Departments of Geological Sciences and Anthropology and Archaeology. The following have served as head of the department: W.P. Thompson (1913-1949); D.S. Rawson (1949-1961); M. Shaw (1961-1968); J.M. Naylor (1968-1973); U.T. Hammer (1973-1976); T.A. Steeves (1976-1982); J. King (1982-1987); R.J.F. Smith (1987-1994); L.C. Fowke (1994- ).

The Department of Classics was one of the original four departments of the University. With Latin and classical studies playing a central role in the secondary school system, students entered their university studies well grounded in ancient language skills. Programs were directed toward advanced language studies, literary studies of the classical authors in the original languages, and ancient history. As Latin and Greek disappeared from the secondary school system, the department had to adapt to students entering the program without prior language training. The abolition of the Arts second language requirement in 1967 forced the department to adjust its programs further. The 1970s saw the introduction of translation classes and the Classics in English program. In 1976 the responsibility for teaching ancient history was given to the history department and the Department of Classics was renamed the Department of Greek and Roman Studies. The department changed its name back to Classics in 1986. The following have served as head of the department: A Moxon (1909-1911); W.G. Sullivan (1911-1945); J.F. Leddy (1945-1965); R.M. Ferguson (1965-1967); C.D. Pritchet (1967-1976); P.M. Swan (1976-1982); N. McClosky (1982-1993); P. Burnell (1993- ).

The Department of Drama was established in with the help of a Rockefeller Foundation grant in 1945, and became the first recognized Drama Department in the British Commonwealth. Courses were designed to develop knowledge and skills of all phases of theatre: acting, stagecraft, design, directing, theatre history, and play interpretation. Greystone theatre was formed in 1950 as a vehicle for applying the theoretical aspects of theatre to stage productions. The following have served as head of the Department of Drama: E. Jones (1945-1971); D.F. Nalbach (1971-1975); T. Kerr (1976-1986); R. Mavor (1986-1990); and F. Edell (1990- ).

Social sciences courses in the College of Arts and Sciences emerged in varying combinations. Initially, Political Science was taught through the Department of Philosophy; Economics became a department in 1914. Political Science was established as a separate faculty in 1921 and functioned independently until 1946, when it was merged with Economics. An introductory class in Sociology was added to the Department of Economics and Political Science in 1946. Sociology developed into an independent department in 1958. Economics and Political Studies became separate departments in 1985. The following have served as head of the Department of Economics: L.C. Gray (1913-1915), W.W. Swanson (1916-1945); C. Gerrard (1985-1989); R.F. Lucas (1989- ). The following have served as head of the Department of Political Science (now Political Studies) : F.H. Underhill (1921-1927); R.M. Dawson (1927-1937); G.E. Britnell (1937-1945); D.J. Heasman (1985-1991); H.J. Michelmann (1991- ). The following served as head of the combined Department of Economics and Political Studies: G.E. Britnell (1945-1961); A.E. Safarian (1961-1966); R.W. Kautz (1966-1969); L.F. Kristjanson (1969-1975); R.G. Beck (1975-1978); J.C.Stabler (1978-1979); K. Lal (1979-1984); J. Steeves (1985).