University Students’ Council (USC) president Stephen Lecce feels an extra $95 dollars a year in student fees is a small price to pay for an upgraded University Community Centre.
When students cast their ballot for the USC elections on Feb. 10-11, they will also be deciding the future of the University Community Centre (UCC).
The USC is proposing a $27-million upgrade to the building, including adding much-need study and lounge space, new retail operations and repurposing the 19,000 square feet of space acquired from the relocation of the Campus Recreation.
The price tag would be shouldered by current and future students with the bill amortized over 20 years.
“This renovation is key,” says Lecce. “I am leading this campaign because now we have the opportunity to save students money.”
Students could benefit from the ongoing construction to the space accrued by the university to develop classrooms, says Lecce. The university and USC share the UCC space, and the university is already moving ahead with renovations to create classrooms in the area it controls.
By sharing the construction team, resources and products, the USC could shave $1.5 million off the overall cost, he says. Students would also benefit from decreased interest rates in the current economic climate.
“I believe if we renovate now, we will have the opportunity to save students millions of dollars,” he says.
The upgrade was initially estimated at $110 per student, however the market drop has lowered the cost.
“With new money being brought in the building with enhanced services and operations, we will be able to keep our fees low.”
If construction is delayed, Western students would incur all of these costs, he adds.
The student population has grown exponentially since the UCC was built, putting greater demands for general purpose space for activities and increased retail opportunities.
“The renovations are long overdue,” he says. “The building was constructed for a student population significantly less of what it is today.”
The proposed upgrade would include cosmetic changes, such as new paint and flooring in the atrium to make the facility more appealing to students.
If the vote is approved, proposals would be tendered in the fall and the hammers and paint cans could roll out as soon as the end of the year. Construction is expected to take about two years.
“It will meet the needs of students today and also allow us to meet the needs of students tomorrow, allow us to grow,” he says.