THUNDER BAY – Lakehead University students have overwhelmingly approved a new 30,000 square foot athletic centre.
Athletic director Tom Warden on Thursday confirmed 79 per cent of the 2,424 students who cast a ballot gave thumbs up to the proposed project in a referendum that closed on Wednesday.
Warden said the project must now be ratified by the Lakehead University Student Union’s board of directors, and if that occurs, there will be about an 18-month turnaround to design and build the facility.
“What’s been interesting through this whole process is watching the passion that the students have with this concept and watching our student leaders help with this process,” Warden said.
According to diagrams posted during the one-week voting period, the new structure will include a basketball gymnasium, an improved workout area, a pharmacy, a study and nap centre, a student lounge and a meditation centre.
“I think it’s a bit of a shift philosophically what this athletics means to our institution,” Warden said.
“I think now we’re a good place to work out and we provide a lot of programming opportunities for our students, but I think moving forward we will become a space for wellness, a space where people can relax, a space where people can study, as well as work out, as well as find areas where they can meditate, areas where they can be alone, areas where they can be with their friends.”
Farhan Yousaf, LUSU vice-president of finance operations said he was surprised at the margin of the vote.
“The results speak for themselves,” Yousaf said in a phone interview with CKPR Radio.
Yousaf said the board ratification vote will take place in about two weeks.
“Once they’re ratified by the board, then they’re official and then from there on we’ll begin the consultation process on the design of the building,” he said.
“Our aim is to have two focus groups and we want to make sure the students have a say in how the design of the building would be, what they want to see in the building.”
Warden said it’s too soon to provide a budget for the project. It’ safe to say it’s in the multi-million-dollar range.
A location for the facility, expected to be attached to the existing athletics structures, is not yet confirmed.
