The University of British Columbia has announced the detailed plans for its new $39.9-million Aquatic Centre for students, community and high-performance sport.
Image: UBC Public Affairs
The new centre will house an Olympic-sized competition pool, 25 metre lap pool, a warm-water family pool with a lazy river, and a large hot tub. The facility will offer a mix of student and community programs, high performance training and competition, student clubs, lessons and drop-in use.
“It’s very rare for an aquatic centre to accommodate so many different users and we are incredibly excited to make this world-class facility available to the community,” says Kavie Toor, associate director of Facilities and Business Development for Athletics and Recreation.
Image: UBC Public Affairs
The new centre will replace UBC’s current indoor and outdoor pools, which are well used but require major upgrades. UBC Athletics and Recreation concluded that building a new Aquatic Centre would be more financially sustainable than doing extensive renovations and repairs. The new venue is expected to attract a 40 per cent increase from existing usage.
UBC professors and staff will also use the new Aquatic Centre for research into the environmental impact of public swimming pools and to evaluate human health risk and management strategies for public pool chemicals.
Image: UBC Public Affairs
UBC’s new Aquatic Centre will be built next to War Memorial Gym on MacInnes Field. Site preparations are expected to start in the coming weeks with construction beginning in late July 2014. The facility is expected to open in September 2016.
The existing 1976-built Aquatic Centre will remain open until the new facility is complete. It will then be demolished and replaced by a new MacInnes Field.
Image: UBC Public Affairs
Highlights of the new Aquatic Centre
Source/Images: UBC Public Affairs