Corporate Profile Saskatchewan's largest and Canada's sixth largest credit union, Conexus has been serving its members for over 80 years. Today we manage more than $7.14 billion in funds and our 900 plus employees serve more than 120,000 members across the province. Our credit union provides personalized service at 41 branches across Saskatchewan. Conexus is committed to innovation and bringing financial services to market with speed. We have a long history of innovation, including: first full service ATM in Canada first Canadian credit union to offer CHIP cards in 2009 and much more Though we are a forward-thinking credit union, Conexus has deep roots in the communities it serves. Our shared values and dedication to social responsibility inspire members and communities to achieve their goals. Each year, we contribute up to 5% of pre-tax earnings back into the communities that help us to grow and prosper. Our employees contribute to the vitality of our communities through more than 35,000 hours of volunteerism. Our community investment program demonstrates that commitment. In 2015 we returned $1.47 million to communities in contributions to various projects. Nearly $200,000 of that was invested in education through programs like Junior Achievement, JDC West Business Competition, financial literacy programs and more. Conexus is a strong supporter of arts and culture. We have invested more than $325,000 in this area over the last two years and have been major supporters of the Conexus Arts Centre since 2006. For more information about who we are, and to meet our leaders, visit our website.
Meeting the Vision We are excited about the potential to partner with the University of Regina, the Wascana Centre Authority and the City of Regina to build our future head office on the College Avenue Campus. We believe our project is well-aligned with the university s vision to: create a welcoming, adaptable, beautiful and highly functional campus that celebrates its historic past, its connection to the community, and is ready for the next 100 years of community service. Through this project, Conexus will create an efficient and effective work environment for its administration team, bringing our employees together in a space that promotes teamwork, collaboration and inclusiveness through shared amenities, community partnerships, innovative design and technology. We believe our 80 years of partnering and investing in Regina and other Saskatchewan communities make Conexus a natural fit for the College Avenue Campus Renewal Project. We see this as an opportunity to put our co-operative principles to work by making a meaningful difference in the community while supporting the university s plan to turn the campus into an economic, educational and cultural hub for the city. Our proposal supports all four key elements of the vision for the College Avenue Campus Renewal Project in the following ways: Heritage Buildings Restored We will closely follow Parks Canada s Standards for Conservation of Historic Spaces in Canada and the Wascana Centre Authority s architectural requirements to develop a facility compatible with the surrounding area, buildings and landscape. Darke Hall Functionality Expanded Our proposal recognizes the importance of returning Darke Hall to a premier special event venue. An atrium connecting to Darke Hall could act as a lobby or reception area for the hall. A promenade will provide additional space for special events. Improved accessibility The University has expressed a desire to create a vibrant, accessible centre of learning at the College Avenue Campus. Accessibility is a key component of our proposed design. In addition to accessible entrances through the proposed atrium, our design will meet all current standards for accessibility, including washrooms, elevators, ramps and more.
Leadership & Outreach Centre Education, training and information is one of the Co-operative Principles that guide Conexus Credit Union s business decisions. Our proposal supports continuous learning by providing opportunities to partner with the university s Leadership and Outreach Centre, by: providing space for a business incubator to support small start-up companies providing mentoring and advice to business incubator tenants making staff available as mentors or guest lecturers through the Leadership & Outreach Centre enrolling our staff in programs offered through the Leadership & Outreach Centre offering Conexus as a possible laboratory and test case environment for student research and projects The Gift of Flexibility Our proposal offers the university a great deal of flexibility in achieving its vision for the College Avenue Campus Renewal Project through: a significant monetary gift over 10 years to the renewal project of the College Avenue Campus beyond the business requirements of the Conexus head office project opportunities to enhance the experience of Conexus members, students and the public through creative use of a shared common area on the main floor of the office building, shared parking and shared amenities Supporting Community Priorities Our proposal and development approach support several of the community priorities identified through the Design Regina process: Embrace built heritage, and invest in arts, culture, sport and recreation Our development approach clearly supports heritage preservation. We agree with Design Regina that the city s character is essential to its current and future built form, civic identity and culture. Conexus is committed to following Parks Canada s Standards for Conservation of Historic Spaces in Canada and Wascana Centre Authority s architectural requirements. Our strong support of arts and culture is reflected in our proposal. We share Design Regina s goal of maintaining and enhancing the city centre as Regina s primary civic and cultural hub. An atrium and accessible entry to Darke Hall will help ensure that the hall can play a major role. We also plan to use shared space to feature the work of prairie and First Nations artists. Develop complete neighborhoods Our proposal increases and enhances the indoor and outdoor public space available at the College Avenue Campus. This makes more amenities available to residents of the neighboring residential areas, such as the Centre Square Neighborhood.
Project Overview The Conexus vision is to create an efficient and effective work environment for our corporate services team that promotes a culture of teamwork, collaboration and inclusiveness through consolidation of locations, shared amenities, community partnerships, innovative design and technology. The preferred site for our new head office is the parcel of land adjacent to Darke Hall on the west side of the College Avenue Campus. Construction of an estimated 80,000 square foot office at this location would provide: 55,000 square feet of workspace for Conexus employees 10,000 square feet to accommodate future growth an estimated 15,000 square feet for business incubator tenants Opportunities for Synergy We believe our proposal represents a mutually beneficial partnership for the development of this historic jewel in our community. Conexus is an environmentally-conscious community-based Saskatchewan organization. We share the vision of the university and the city for a sustainable and strong future for the province. Like the university we place a high value on education, leadership development and mentorship. As a co-operative organization we also share a deep commitment to community. Our proposal to build a sustainable head office on the College Avenue Campus presents several opportunities to create an enhanced outcome through co-operation between the University of Regina and Conexus. Though our plans would be finalized in discussion with the university and its partners, we see the following opportunities to improve what the campus has to offer, avoid or reduce costs, and support innovation in design and project delivery: 1. Restoring Darke Hall Our proposed design includes an atrium space with an accessible connection to Darke Hall, supporting the university s desire to return Darke Hall to its former role as a premier venue for events. Conexus could eliminate or delay the need for the university to build an atrium on the east side of Darke Hall. 2. Program development and delivery Leadership development is an important aspect of the Conexus corporate culture. Our emerging leaders are actively involved in the community throughout the province, providing education, mentoring and coaching to all ages with an emphasis on financial literacy and entrepreneurship. We see opportunities for our leadership development program to partner on program development and delivery with the University of Regina Leadership and Outreach Centre. Conexus staff could act as mentors or guest speakers and participate in university or student-led research initiatives.
3. Business incubator Conexus is very excited about the opportunity to incorporate incubator space for small startup businesses that would benefit the community and surrounding area. Incubator space for small startup businesses would benefit the community and surrounding area. It would fill a gap in Regina s current economic development strategy, support Design Regina s goal to optimize they city s economic development potential, and support our desire to contribute to the vitality of Saskatchewan communities. It is also very closely aligned with Conexus history of, and focus on, supporting entrepreneurship and small business owners. Conexus staff could partner with university faculty and students, as well as our extensive business relationships in the community to act as mentors and coaches to incubator tenants. In turn, the College Avenue Campus and Wascana Park neighbourhood would provide a one-of-a-kind inspirational environment that is considered key to the success of a business incubator. 4. Support for the arts Conexus is a strong supporter of arts and culture across the province. Over the last 14 years, we have provided significant financial support to the Conexus Arts Centre. In the last two years alone, we have invested more than $325,000 in arts and culture across the province. We are pleased that our proposed design offers several opportunities to support Regina s cultural community. In addition to creating an important atrium and accessible entry to Darke Hall, we would feature the work of prairie and First Nations artists in the atrium or other common areas of the new building. 5. Shared space and amenities It is our desire to build a flexible and adaptable space that promotes a collaborative environment. This would allow both parties to use the available space to its fullest potential. There may be efficiencies gained by sharing flex space. Our proposed facility could also offer several shared amenities that would enhance the College Avenue Campus and benefit its community of users. This could include: café lunchroom washrooms lounge with internet access loading dock
6. Accessibility Accessibility is a key component of our proposed design. An atrium connection to Darke Hall would support the desire to turn the hall into a premier event space, while making it accessible to all. The design would meet all current standards for this heritage building, including washrooms, elevators and ramps. 7. Shared parking Conexus and the university could share parking during non-business hours and on weekends when fewer Conexus staff are in the building. Sharing the university s 100 excess surface spots would reduce the total number of underground parking spaces required by Conexus, thus maximizing use of space and minimizing impact on the park landscape. It would also make more parking available for university students and members of the general public who attend events at Darke Hall or Wascana Park. 8. Indigenization Conexus welcomes the opportunity to partner with the University of Regina in its commitment to make its campus the most indigenized in Canada. Conexus actively supports Saskatchewan First Nations by hosting career fairs, offering financial literacy training, and sponsoring and supplying guest lecturers for the First Nations University of Canada Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Camp. We also engage directly with First Nations communities, as we did when we supported those affected by last summer s forest fires. One way we would further this commitment is by displaying the work of prairie and First Nations artists in the atrium and common areas of the new building.
Conceptual Site Plan Conexus is open to working with the university to integrate the new construction in a way that complements and preserves the heritage nature of Darke Hall and the rest of the campus. We will finalize our design in consultation with the university and the Wascana Centre Authority; however, we believe the proposed atrium connecting to Darke Hall provides opportunities for an accessible entrance to the campus, as well as shared amenities such as a reception area, underground parking, and washrooms. Our development project at the College Avenue Campus site will involve collaboration with stakeholders such as the University of Regina, Wascana Centre Authority, the City of Regina, Regina Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee and the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport. We understand that our efforts must follow heritage guidelines set out in the Standards for the Conservation of Historic Spaces in Canada. We will pay specific attention to the requirement that any new buildings be complementary, but subservient to, the existing buildings and that they be clearly discernable as new additions. Our design will follow the generally accepted principle that new construction must not obscure, radically change or have a negative impact on character-defining materials, forms, uses or three dimensional configurations. As required, Conexus will take great care to ensure: our design is physically compatible, yet distinguishable from, the historic campus the design strikes an appropriate balance between mere imitation of the existing form and pointed contrast any new construction does not impair the essential form and integrity of the historic campus the design minimizes the impact of the addition on the existing heritage structures Our design will reflect the intent of the university s vision for the renewal project, as well as the Wascana Centre Authority Master Plan. DISCLAIMER The contents of this document may be subject to change based on negotiations and discussions between the University, Conexus, the Province of Saskatchewan, the City of Regina, the Wascana Centre Authority and other partners.