$20-million donation from Don and Ruth Taylor will advance game-changing human performance, movement and sport science research
The University of Calgary will soon be home to one of the most advanced post-secondary research facilities dedicated for the study of human performance, movement and sport science, thanks to an extraordinary $20-million gift from the Taylor Family Foundation.
The Taylor Family Kinesiology Building will take UCalgary from one of the top sport science schools in North America to an international leader, with a state-of-the-art research facility that will enable revolutionary advancements in exercise physiology, neuroscience, nutrition and more.
This extensive project will also revitalize existing spaces to improve labs and offices, enabling growth to undergraduate enrolment and drawing top scholars to the city — further strengthening excellence in both teaching and research.
“The Faculty of Kinesiology has already earned a place among the top sport science schools in North America, and the time has come to expand its potential,” says Dr. Ed McCauley, PhD, UCalgary president and vice-chancellor.
“The Taylor Family’s long-standing support and vision has truly helped make the extraordinary possible at UCalgary, and we look forward to opening this iconic new facility to further our leadership in human movement, sport, recreation and wellness.”
The new gift makes the Taylor Family the largest individual donor to the University of Calgary, with their support over the years totalling more than $100 million.
Don Taylor, OC, Hon. , has supported the Faculty of Kinesiology since 1997, when he funded the Dr. Benno Nigg Chair in Biomechanics, Mobility and Longevity — named for the founder of UCalgary’s Human Performance Lab, with whom Taylor formed a deep friendship.
“Witnessing the faculty’s growth and increasing standing on the world stage over the years is inspiring. I’m thrilled by its success,” says Taylor. “Looking to the future, this new investment in the faculty just makes sense.”
The facility will boast 25,000 square feet dedicated to world-class kinesiology teaching and research — and a new home for the Human Performance Lab — a multidisciplinary centre that explores mobility and longevity.
The expanded space will accelerate what is possible with an impressive breadth of equipment, with hundreds of pieces ranging from multiphoton microscopes and cell incubators to motion-capture systems and instrumented treadmills.
“We are set to be a global leader for decades to come with this new facility,” says Dr. Nick Holt, PhD, dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology. “Building upon our world-renowned excellence, we look forward to preparing more leaders in research and industry — and accelerating collaborations with leading companies around the world.”
The Faculty of Kinesiology has earned a reputation for excellence that is due in part to the legacy of the 1988 Winter Olympics. Building on this foundation and a commitment to transdisciplinary research, the faculty has continued to climb in rankings over the decades. UCalgary faculty, researchers and students have consistently led the way in their fields, but the dated and over-capacity spaces are beginning to limit advances.