Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast, an intramural participant, or a varsity Gael, Athletics & Recreation hopes to see you in the Innovation and Wellness Centre (IWC) this fall.

“The IWC will be a hub where every aspect of campus life intersects, blending academic and wellness spaces and emphasizing the links between physical and mental health and academic success,” says Benoit-Antoine Bacon, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic). “When completed, the project will be a signature building for Queen’s and a powerful catalyst for growth and change in the lives of our students.”

When the former Physical Education Centre was closed for construction in 2016, there were three gyms located inside. Once construction on the IWC is complete, two gyms will be re-opened and a third gymnasium will be located on the lower level.

“The IWC’s opening will mean hundreds of additional hours of participation opportunities that will benefit all of our programs, from casual recreation and intramurals to varsity sports and community partners,” says Leslie Dal Cin, Executive Director, Athletics & Recreation. “The new facilities will open up space in the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC), allowing us to provide additional programming and equipment to accommodate ever-increasing interest and demand from our entire campus community."

The IWC will also be home to a high performance training centre for varsity athletes. This state-of-the-art resource, which will open in January 2019, will provide student-athletes with cutting-edge equipment and technology, including a turf area and weight room, on-site coaching, and an efficient and productive training environment.

The centre will include a 4,000-square foot weight room, a medicine ball power development wall to be used for throwing and catching drills, and a 35-metre turf area for movement, conditioning, and skills development.

“The combination of facilities, equipment, and dedicated strength and conditioning programming in the High Performance Training Centre will allow us to create a unique training environment for our student-athletes,” says Ms. Dal Cin. “Moving the athletes out of the ARC will increase the availability of weights and other equipment for all students looking to work out and get active.”

Rounding out the Athletics & Recreation facilities within the IWC, visitors will also enjoy an active staircase that encourages stair usage, universal change rooms, and student-athlete support offices.

Collectively, the three IWC gymnasia and the training centre will be known as “ARC South”. The facility will be linked to the existing ARC through an underground passageway.

Co-located with the new Athletic and Recreation facilities in the IWC are other wellness services, student life programs, and academic spaces. Placing all of these services under one roof reflects the connection between wellness, the student experience, and student success.

The Innovation and Wellness Centre will be officially opening during the 2018/19 academic year, and a grand opening is being planned for this fall. Follow along with the centre’s progress via the building’s website.

The creation of the IWC was made possible through $55 million in philanthropic support, including $40 million to revitalize the facility. In addition, the federal and Ontario governments contributed a combined total of nearly $22 million to this facility.