Student Society and UNBC Unveil Plans for New Student Centre
January 31, 2006
The University of Northern British Columbia and the Northern
Undergraduate Student Society (NUGSS) have unveiled plans to establish
a student centre on campus. It’s proposed that the Northern University
Student Centre (NUSC) will occupy the current UNBC Fitness Centre and
part of the Conference Centre after completion of the Northern Sport
Centre.
Originally, the NUSC was to have been a free-standing building located on campus, behind the Canfor Winter Garden. After initial construction estimates of nearly $12 million, the proposal was rejected in a student referendum in April, 2005.
“We continue to believe that NUSC – in whatever form it takes – will be of huge benefit to current and future students,” says NUGSS President Colin Phillips. “UNBC Administration has been of great help to us in our search for alternatives to our initial vision of NUSC. This new plan to occupy an existing space on campus will allow us to realize significant cost-savings while still providing various services, including office and storage space for clubs, social areas, space for student-run organizations, a multi-purpose room for events, and a pub. This location is also close to the bus stop and the student residences.”
An estimate for renovation costs will be determined over the next few months, following the completion of architectural designs. Currently, undergraduate students studying at the Prince George campus pay a $15 NUGSS building fee each semester and a fee increase to renovate and operate NUSC is likely. If any additional fee is required, the request will go to a student referendum in the Fall of 2006. The UNBC Board of Governors approved the general terms and conditions of a management and lease agreement at its meeting this past weekend. The plans are subject to the completion of negotiations to build the Northern Sport Centre.
The western part of the Conference and Fitness Centre provides more than 17,000 square feet of space for the NUSC. Currently, meeting rooms, offices, squash courts, an aerobics room, weight room, and cardio equipment are in the space but many of these services will be relocated to the future Northern Sport Centre.
Contact:
Aidan Kelly, External Affairs, NUGSS - 250.960.6427
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC - 250.960.5622
Originally, the NUSC was to have been a free-standing building located on campus, behind the Canfor Winter Garden. After initial construction estimates of nearly $12 million, the proposal was rejected in a student referendum in April, 2005.
“We continue to believe that NUSC – in whatever form it takes – will be of huge benefit to current and future students,” says NUGSS President Colin Phillips. “UNBC Administration has been of great help to us in our search for alternatives to our initial vision of NUSC. This new plan to occupy an existing space on campus will allow us to realize significant cost-savings while still providing various services, including office and storage space for clubs, social areas, space for student-run organizations, a multi-purpose room for events, and a pub. This location is also close to the bus stop and the student residences.”
An estimate for renovation costs will be determined over the next few months, following the completion of architectural designs. Currently, undergraduate students studying at the Prince George campus pay a $15 NUGSS building fee each semester and a fee increase to renovate and operate NUSC is likely. If any additional fee is required, the request will go to a student referendum in the Fall of 2006. The UNBC Board of Governors approved the general terms and conditions of a management and lease agreement at its meeting this past weekend. The plans are subject to the completion of negotiations to build the Northern Sport Centre.
The western part of the Conference and Fitness Centre provides more than 17,000 square feet of space for the NUSC. Currently, meeting rooms, offices, squash courts, an aerobics room, weight room, and cardio equipment are in the space but many of these services will be relocated to the future Northern Sport Centre.
Contact:
Aidan Kelly, External Affairs, NUGSS - 250.960.6427
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC - 250.960.5622
