Windsor Lancers

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - NIRSA OUTSTANDING FACILITIES AWARD APPLICATION - NOVEMBER 2022
 

RECREATION FACILITIES RELATIONSHIP TO CAMPUS MASTER PLAN AND MISSION
The original St. Denis Centre was built in 1981 in honour of Assumption College’s longest-serving president, Reverend Denis O’Connor. It has been the home for athletics and recreation, the hub of student activity and community gatherings memories for decades. The Toldo Lancer Centre (TLC) which adjoins to the formerly known St Denis Centre is a beacon of campus and community pride bonding generations from the past to the future.
 
A Campus Master Plan (2014) established a vision for the next 50 years, with an attractive design intended to enrich both the student and the community experience. The completion of the TLC in July 2022 concludes a component of phase 2 of the campus transformation.
 
The University of Windsor and campus recreation recognizes the positive benefits of student participation in recreation. These benefits cross multiple domains including physical health, psychosocial health, learning outcomes, sense of community, all which impact academic success, retention and graduation. The TLC demonstrates the strong commitment to the physical and mental health of our campus and community.

INTENDED AND ACTUAL IMPACT TO YOUR RECREATION PROGRAM
The intended recreation goals of this project included:

1. Updated and expanded recreation facilities that meet the varying needs of user groups
2. Increased student engagement in recreational opportunities for physical health, mental wellness, experiential learning, leadership and employment.
3. Greater sense of campus community, belonging and connection to main campus

 
The new TLC offers over 120,000 sq ft of additional indoor recreation space and includes:

• 5000 sq.ft “Lancer Commons”
• 9,150 sq.ft 8-lane, 25-metre pool
• 13,000 sq.ft. – 2 level fitness centre
• 25,000 sq.ft. triple gymnasium
• 3 fitness multipurpose rooms
• 200 m suspended walking track
• Male/female/universal change rooms

 
The TLC was made a reality with a capital contribution of $55 million by UWindsor students, the largest student contribution ever for a Canadian university.
 
The intentional design of the pool supports a variety of inclusive programs for all ages and fitness levels. Pool daily hours of operation have doubled allowing for a 50% increase in aquatics programming. Aligning with our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, the pool also offers men’s only, women’s only and 2SLGBTQ+ only opportunities.
The triple gym offers additional court space for intramural sport, open recreation activities, community events and varsity competition. It is also the new home for UWindsor Convocation. Intramurals now offers twice as many games per evening. Open recreation time for basketball, badminton, table tennis, volleyball and pickleball has increased over 50% allowing more daily options.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FACILITY DESIGN AND STAFFING

The TLC desk is strategically placed at the intersection between the new facility and the existing facility. The open concept layout of the entrance allows for interconnectivity of all the TLC with views into the fitness centre, entrance to the triple gymnasium, original fieldhouse, the stairway access to the upper multipurpose rooms and upper-level track. As a result of this innovative design, we have been able to maintain the same quantity of staff for that location

FACILITY FUNCTIONALITY
The TLC project had established functional goals:

1. Create a campus facility that blends academic, recreational and social activities; 
2. Enhance University reputation by providing an exceptional student recreational experience;
3. Create a facility in which varsity sport and recreation can co-exist;
4. Increase capacity and diversity in recreation programs;
5. Create a greater sense of community and belonging

The “Lancer Commons” is a welcoming social hub providing students, and community members a space to gather for all types of academic, recreational, and social activities. The open design surrounded by natural light encourages an environment of inclusivity, connection and collaboration allowing full transparency into the fitness centre, glass-views into the triple gymnasium and into the Fieldhouse.

The Fitness Centre spans two floors with 2 levels with floor-to-ceiling windows allowing natural light and greater connection to the outdoors. This additional fitness space triples the number of cardio and strength training equipment currently available, complimenting the pre-existing "Forge” Fitness Centre. The 3 new multi purpose fitness spaces are dedicated to spin, martial arts and fitness training.

The pool is the largest public space in the building. The intentional inclusion designs allow users with a disability or mobility limitations greater access.

The Triple Gymnasium serves the needs of a variety of user groups including intramural sport, open recreation, community tournaments, varsity competition and events. The functional design allows for customizable options, featuring 1 competitive basketball/ volleyball court or 3 recreational basketball courts or 4 recreational volleyball courts. 

 

 

USE OF TECHNOLOGY
The integration of technology was an underlying objective of this project. The investment into Innosoft Fusion and the Fusion Go app have improved daily operations. Access control was a priority of the TLC. The security features provided by the integration of Fusion with our entrance turnstiles allows greater control of who gets in, when and where. The Fusion technology has improved membership management allowing unlimited membership options to meet our operational needs and eliminate barriers to enrollment. Scheduling of facility spaces now allows for all facility bookings to be funneled through Fusion's calendar and is available to staff and facility users either on the website or app. The Fusion Go app integrates with the platform providing increased accessibility to facility information.

INNOVATIVE, INCLUSIVE, OR SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES
The concept a centralized commons area was established early in the design process. The “Lancer Commons” has the advantages of views to each of the major spaces, with short travel, and minimal signage. This design strategy allows for balancing universal accessibility with the necessary large volume elements. Key inclusive and accessible facility design outcomes include:

General Facility features:

• Accessible signage
• Large universal symbols to communicate accessibility features
• Two elevators offer access to both levels of the facility
• All restrooms in the TLC are wheelchair accessible
• Automatic, touchless faucets and doors
• Three universal restrooms located on the first level of the facility
• Accessible hydration stations
• Wheelchair accessible ramps
• Large window and LED lights to accommodate visitors with visual impairments

The TLC Pool features:

• A zero-entry ramp to allow visitors with a disability or mobility limitations greater access
• Large and spacious gendered and universal change areas
  • Accessible shower, equipped with seating and hand-held mobile faucets
  • Universal change area is equipped with three adjustable adult change tables
• Acoustic paneling for sound dampening for hearing impairments and/or sensory sensitivities

The Fitness Centre features: 

• Open concept design with accessible pathways 
• Wide entrance with automatic gates to accommodate wheelchair accessibility 
• Elevator to the second level
• Accessible fitness equipment

Triple gym features:

• Bleacher entrance located on the second level and can be accessed by stairs or elevator 
• Wheelchair accessible seating on the court

Outdoors features:

• Accessible walkways
• Six accessible parking spaces
• Bicycle parking
• Electric Vehicle charging stations 

Although the project did not require a LEED certification, the first stage of the project targeted a key reduction to Green House Gas emission in the aged 1980’s fieldhouse. In addition, lighting was replaced with high-efficiency LED fixtures for low energy consumption, complete with wireless controls.

The TLC connects to this existing facility and is perched on a sloped site with significant geotechnical challenges. An offsetting design resolution was devised to reduce overall weight of the structure, with the use of an innovative light-weight natural foam product the geotechnical stress under the building was eliminated reducing the need for tons of imported granular fill.

The building envelope is built to a high-performance level for conserving energy. Systems are designed to reduce energy consumption to at least 5% below ASHRAE 90.1 model building or 25% below the MNECB model building.