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The university has begun the planning for the renovation of the former physical education centre, with the intention of repurposing it as a hub for student health and wellness, student innovation and student learning in the heart of campus. 

If the planning comes to fruition, the building will also become the home of a new, state-of-the-art facility for the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, which will further enhance the faculty as one of the best in the country.

“The redeveloped building will be an enhancement to both the quality of our student experience and the quality of our research and educational facilities,” says Principal and Vice-Chancellor Daniel Woolf. “When completed, it will be a prominent symbol of Queen’s commitments both to student life and learning and to advanced research.”

The building, located at 67 Union St., was decommissioned in 2009. In 2012, the three gyms in the building were renovated and reopened to provide increased recreational opportunities for students, and centralized exam space. A recent structural assessment of the building by an external consultant found that it is in excellent shape and, if renovated, could provide a considerable amount of additional space – up to 160,000 square feet – at a relatively low cost per square foot, compared to a newly constructed building.

“The building provides a wonderful opportunity to utilize and revitalize valuable space that is not currently being used,” says Alan Harrison, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic). “Given the university’s current financial situation, strong support will be needed to fund the project, and we are hopeful that this use of existing space will allow us to realize our goals sooner than if we were to construct a new building.”

More information about the project will be made available as plans progress.