Concordia Corner
Long-awaited recreation space in EV will delight fitness addicts
Those who appreciated the laid back atmosphere at the Victoria Gym but were discouraged by the outdated equipment and crumbling façade of the 100 –year-old building are eagerly awaiting the unveiling of the new facility.
“You’re in for a shock royale,” enthused Recreation and Athletics Director Katie Sheahan when describing current and future plans for the fitness centre.
Since September 5th, students, faculty, staff and alumni have been able to register for recreational courses and view the new facility under development. The fitness centre entrance is located by the metro exit of the EV building opposite the Omer de Serres art supply shop and the future tunnel to the new JMSB building on the other side of Guy. This initial phase encompasses the reception area, change rooms and three studios. Care was taken to keep within the same colour palette, materials and general design framework of the handsome building.
Two of the studios will be shared with the Contemporary Dance department. However, at peak workout times, early mornings, noon and dinner hours, all three studios will be used for various aerobics, martial arts, pilates and dance courses. Registrations are currently being accepted for the semester that will run from September 25 to December. Anyone can join the facility, but members of the Concordia community have preferred rates.
The slightly later start for this semester is due to the efforts to “minimize the disruption caused by the big, heavy, dusty work needed to get Phase II underway”. This second phase will see an expansion of the wet facilities in the change rooms, meeting space for recreation clubs, and a wellness centre which will feature a rotating series of professionals in areas like nutrition, counseling, physiotherapy, physical evaluations or whatever other needs may be identified by centre users.
The main focus of Phase II is the approximately 7,000 square foot workout centre on the floor below the lounges, change rooms and studios already put together. “It’s going to be spectacular, with a huge, impressive staircase leading down to the workout area.”
This new facility, at nearly seven times the available floor space of the Victoria Gym equivalent, will be equipped with the latest in weight machines, stair, elliptical and step machines and free weights. A workshop will also be on site in case machines need repair or maintenance.
“We had to do a Debbie Travis,” Sheahan said of the rush to get the major work out of the way. She hopes that inconvenience will be kept to a minimum once classes have begun in late September.
Phase II is expected to be operational by late November. For more information about hours of operation, course schedules, rates, tours and updates on the centre’s progress, visit concordia.ca/recreation, or stop by the centre itself.