The University of Western Ontario’s brand new Western Student Recreation Centre officially opened today with a celebration and the unveiling of a commemorative tribute to the students who made the centre possible.
The $35.7 million facility opened its doors in January, but some work remained, including putting the finishing touches on the pool. Today, the facility is fully functional and fabulous, says Stephen Lecce, University Students’ Council President.
Western President Paul Davenport and University Students’ Council President Stephen Lecce have some fun around the pool during the official opening of the Western Student Recreation Centre on Friday.
“This is a proud day for Western students,” says Lecce. “Students made a conscious decision and commitment to support the building of the Western Student Recreation Centre, and today, it is easy to see it was the right decision.
“It’s a great facility that will enrich the lives of students for many years to come and it shows that students themselves possess the philanthropic desire to make our community better, now and in the future.”
Lecce was joined by former USC President Ryan Dunn (2005/2006), who talked about the initial vision for the recreation centre.
Western originally committed $10 million to the project, and in 2006 students held a referendum to approve funding for the rest of the cost. An annual fee of $60 per year will be contributed by students and will increase by three per cent each year.
Student support for this project and for undergraduate and graduate bursaries total more than $100 million over the next 30 years. This record-breaking donation, the largest of any student body to a Canadian university, was announced in January 2008.
“We at Western are proud that this beautiful, highly functional facility was made possible by a very generous gift from our students,” says Western President Paul Davenport. “It stands as a monument to the commitment our students have to Western and to those who will follow them in coming years.”
Davenport was joined by Jim Weese, Western’s Dean of Health Sciences, and Gareth Cunningham, Manager of Campus Recreation.
“Experience tells us that high quality programming in an exceptional facility such as this enhances not only physical and psychological well-being of our students, but it really plays a huge role in creating a sense of community,” says Weese. “It will definitely make our best student experience even better.”
An art installation was unveiled at the event and will recognize the student contributions to the centre.
Western Student Recreation Centre Facts
• The Western Student Recreation Centre (WSRC) is home to a fitness centre with more than 19,000 square feet of weight, cardio, and stretching space and over 200 pieces of weight and cardio fitness equipment.
• The WSRC pool is eight lanes, 50 metres and has two bulkheads to allow for maximum versatility and programming. The pool is designed for accessibility with a lift, barrier free locker room entrances and exits and additionally, the pool gallery will include seating space for wheelchair users.
• The WSRC has five gymnasia – three gyms on the first floor, and two more on the upper level, or 4th floor. The three lower level gyms feature an engineered sprung hardwood floor, 30metres x 57 metres (30m x 19m each) or 18,400 square feet, while the two upper gyms have a poured athletic resilient floor for a greater multi-purpose use.
• There are two large sprung hardwood floor studio spaces. The larger studio, 3,624 square feet, will have an electric dividing partition to allow conversion to two studio spaces. Both feature an adjustable dance bars, mirrors, millwork benches and cubbies.
• There are five international squash courts with unfinished wood floors with composite material walls and lining. The courts are international dimensions, with one court allowing natural light, with glass walls that can be viewed from above as well as the floor level.
• The WSRC also has a sports motif café, lounge spaces, an area for massage therapy, three instructional meeting/ training room spaces and administrative offices.
Did you know?
There are over 250,000 feet of electrical wiring, 1,300 light fixtures, and 1,500 electrical devices in the Western Student Recreation Centre. The mechanical features include more than 25,000 feet of piping and over 8,000 feet of ductwork. 525,000 gallons of water fill the 8 lane, 50 metre pool.
