SpongeG
Oct 3, 2007, 9:32 PM
Huge sports complex proposed for SFU
Complex would include B.C.'s first Olympic-sized pool and athlete blood-testing laboratory
Brooke Larsen
Burnaby Now
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
SFU's Burnaby campus could soon be the site of a massive fitness complex that will mix sports medicine and athletic facilities, a project official said Monday.
The complex, proposed for the west side of the campus, would include two rooftop fields above an indoor track and field, said Ryan Skomorowski, president of Burnaby Mountain Sports Medical Ltd.
The $250-million complex includes an Olympic-sized pool, training space for the Vancouver Whitecaps and an Olympic-standard athlete blood-testing lab.
"We're the largest multi-sport complex in Canada," Skomorowski said in an interview.
Developed over the last two years, the complex is a public-private partnership between Simon Fraser University and Lower Mainland sports heavyweights like B.C. Lions CEO and president Bob Ackles.
Other board members include Chuck Keeling, a vice-president of Great Canadian Casinos, and Stephen Bellringer, former president of Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment, Skomorowski said.
The three-hectare site was once set aside for an Olympic skating oval. In 2004, Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan blasted Olympic organizers after they chose a Richmond site instead. At that time, plans included an oval that could be converted into a field house.
"We've helped (SFU) realize a much bigger legacy than the Olympic oval would have been," Skomorowski said.
The proposal would allow the privately operated complex to be leased from SFU for a "nominal" amount, a Burnaby staff report says.
SFU spokesperson Don McLachlan said the university is aware of the plans but has not seen any detailed proposals.
Better sports facilities are sorely needed at the university, McLachlan said.
"We're not involved, other than we would provide the land on a lease and would get some pretty major use out of the facilities," he added.
"Quite where we go from here, we don't know."
Built into the side of the mountain, the top of the 445,600-square-foot complex would be level with surrounding sports fields, plans show.
Its concrete buildings will blend with the campus's Arthur Erickson-designed buildings but were designed by Stantec Architecture, Skomorowski said.
The field house, which has seating for 5,000, could be used by SFU for convocation, career fairs and other gatherings, the staff report states.
Likewise, many facilities would be open to SFU sports teams and students, as well as to other Burnaby sports teams, camps and residents.
The facility will boost Burnaby residents' access to chiropractors, physiotherapists, nutritionists and kinesiologists - now concentrated at the University of British Columbia - but doctors will not charge for medically necessary services, the report adds.
Other elements include two levels of under-building parking, commercial offices, shops and restaurants.
Skomorowski said the the blood testing lab would be available for SFU athletes. Olympic organizers have asked about the site, and will use it if it's is finished by 2010, he added.
"It's a great legacy for SFU," Skomorowski said.
On Monday, Burnaby city council asked staff to work on the plans with the the developer before the city seeks public feedback.
Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan was not available for comment, but Coun. Nick Volkow said he plans to support the project. He noted it will give SFU students and Burnaby's growing population access to recreation facilities.
"I'm intrigued by it. I don't see it hurting us," Volkow added.
But Coun. Garth Evans said he doubts it can be finished by the developer's 2010 goal.
"When I was looking at the material, I thought they were taking on a very big project," Evans said.
"I'm doubting how practical it is."
Derrick Harder, president of the Simon Fraser Student Society, also has reservations.
Harder said while the SFU sorely needs more athletic space, new study areas would help students more.
"It wouldn't be used by students who aren't involved in athletics," Harder added.
Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi and Bob Ackles of the B.C. Lions did not return phone calls before deadline.
http://www.canada.com/burnabynow/news/story.html?id=5e11a130-7f4f-4cc4-9bce-cccc3e175f9f&k=89631
Complex would include B.C.'s first Olympic-sized pool and athlete blood-testing laboratory
Brooke Larsen
Burnaby Now
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
SFU's Burnaby campus could soon be the site of a massive fitness complex that will mix sports medicine and athletic facilities, a project official said Monday.
The complex, proposed for the west side of the campus, would include two rooftop fields above an indoor track and field, said Ryan Skomorowski, president of Burnaby Mountain Sports Medical Ltd.
The $250-million complex includes an Olympic-sized pool, training space for the Vancouver Whitecaps and an Olympic-standard athlete blood-testing lab.
"We're the largest multi-sport complex in Canada," Skomorowski said in an interview.
Developed over the last two years, the complex is a public-private partnership between Simon Fraser University and Lower Mainland sports heavyweights like B.C. Lions CEO and president Bob Ackles.
Other board members include Chuck Keeling, a vice-president of Great Canadian Casinos, and Stephen Bellringer, former president of Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment, Skomorowski said.
The three-hectare site was once set aside for an Olympic skating oval. In 2004, Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan blasted Olympic organizers after they chose a Richmond site instead. At that time, plans included an oval that could be converted into a field house.
"We've helped (SFU) realize a much bigger legacy than the Olympic oval would have been," Skomorowski said.
The proposal would allow the privately operated complex to be leased from SFU for a "nominal" amount, a Burnaby staff report says.
SFU spokesperson Don McLachlan said the university is aware of the plans but has not seen any detailed proposals.
Better sports facilities are sorely needed at the university, McLachlan said.
"We're not involved, other than we would provide the land on a lease and would get some pretty major use out of the facilities," he added.
"Quite where we go from here, we don't know."
Built into the side of the mountain, the top of the 445,600-square-foot complex would be level with surrounding sports fields, plans show.
Its concrete buildings will blend with the campus's Arthur Erickson-designed buildings but were designed by Stantec Architecture, Skomorowski said.
The field house, which has seating for 5,000, could be used by SFU for convocation, career fairs and other gatherings, the staff report states.
Likewise, many facilities would be open to SFU sports teams and students, as well as to other Burnaby sports teams, camps and residents.
The facility will boost Burnaby residents' access to chiropractors, physiotherapists, nutritionists and kinesiologists - now concentrated at the University of British Columbia - but doctors will not charge for medically necessary services, the report adds.
Other elements include two levels of under-building parking, commercial offices, shops and restaurants.
Skomorowski said the the blood testing lab would be available for SFU athletes. Olympic organizers have asked about the site, and will use it if it's is finished by 2010, he added.
"It's a great legacy for SFU," Skomorowski said.
On Monday, Burnaby city council asked staff to work on the plans with the the developer before the city seeks public feedback.
Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan was not available for comment, but Coun. Nick Volkow said he plans to support the project. He noted it will give SFU students and Burnaby's growing population access to recreation facilities.
"I'm intrigued by it. I don't see it hurting us," Volkow added.
But Coun. Garth Evans said he doubts it can be finished by the developer's 2010 goal.
"When I was looking at the material, I thought they were taking on a very big project," Evans said.
"I'm doubting how practical it is."
Derrick Harder, president of the Simon Fraser Student Society, also has reservations.
Harder said while the SFU sorely needs more athletic space, new study areas would help students more.
"It wouldn't be used by students who aren't involved in athletics," Harder added.
Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi and Bob Ackles of the B.C. Lions did not return phone calls before deadline.
http://www.canada.com/burnabynow/news/story.html?id=5e11a130-7f4f-4cc4-9bce-cccc3e175f9f&k=89631