New fitness centre announced

Fanshawe College and the Fanshawe Student Union announced on January 28 the expansion of Fanshawe’s Community Fitness Centre.

The proposed expansion will allow for larger fitness facilities as well as the grouping of wellness programs all under one roof.

The planned expansion will be three storeys high. The first floor will be dedicated to wellness programs, such as message therapy, a juice bar and a pharmacy, while the second and third floors will be for fitness programs, such as cardio and strength training and group-exercise rooms.

The building will also include a rock-climbing wall spanning the three floors.

“Some people find refuge in working out, and some people find refuge in quiet areas,” FSU President Matt Stewart said. “We need to be able to support not just one demographic but all demographics around the school to be able to provide them with facilities that cater to their needs.”

The expansion of the fitness and wellness centre will not translate to an increase in student fees until the opening of the building. Part of student fees students are already paying will go towards the new building, however. The FSU is looking into giving back to Fanshawe graduates who are contributing to the expansion.

Construction is planned to start this summer and the opening is planned for January 2017.

“A new health and wellness centre gives the options for students for dealing with the day-to-day stresses that they can fall into throughout school life,” Stewart said. “As the student union who looks after the students, we need to be able to provide facilities that they can utilize to deal with their stresses.”

The FSU and Fanshawe identified in May 2011 expanding the Community Fitness Centre and fitness and wellness services as a high priority. The existing facility was built in 1993, and student population as increased by 68 per cent since then.

The FSU announced in May of last year that it would be contributing $24 million over 25 years to the expansion of the fitness centre.

“With the growth of the college and an increased focus on fitness and wellness, this facility will be on more asset to ensure Fanshawe offers premier college learning and student life experience,” said Fanshawe President Peter Devlin in a media release.