Dalhousie's Memorial Arena will be demolished in 2012
Long term plans released for fitness facilities
(0)Dalhousie University officials found out six weeks ago that Memorial Arena would have to come down , according to Jeff Lamb, head of Dalhousie Facilities Management.
The arena will be demolished in April, near the end of the 2012 winter semester because a new student residence is being built on the corner of LeMarchant St. and South St.
In order to get a building permit from Halifax Regional Municipality for the new seven-storey student residence, Dalhousie officials had to change plans and move the foundation 10 ft. closer to the arena. As a result, the foundations of the two buildings were too close to each other. This could have forced a structural redesign for the $48-million residence.
The cost of this change would be on top of the already planned $3-4 million arena roof replacement. It was required because of the increased snow load due to potential drifting from the adjacent new building. The roof, combined with the addition of new locker rooms that would service both Wickwire Field and the arena, were going to cost $10-12 million.
"We came to the conclusion that we could build a new arena for the same amount of money," said Ken Burt, head of Dalhousie Finance and Administration.
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Architect's rendering of new LeMarchant Street residence building (Photo Courtesy:Dalhousie University)
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Locations of the future hockey arena, fitness centre, and LeMarchant Street mixed use building
When the height of the new residence reaches that of the current arena, the roof has to be gone.
Future plans for athletics facilities
The Dalplex fitness centre addition that was set to be built where Eliza Ritchie Hall is currently, will now be constructed on the Memorial Arena site.
"Picture a fitness club open 24-hours a day that's as good as the Good Life Fitness Facility in town," said Burt of the proposed 70,000 sq.ft. building.
With this change, construction on the fitness centre could start as early as Fall 2012. It previously wouldn't have started until the new residence was completed in 2013, to allow the 92 students living at Eliza Ritchie to be moved and the old hall subsequently demolished.
Now that the fitness centre's location has been moved, a new ice hockey arena is proposed for the Eliza Ritchie site, next to the Dalplex.
"What we're hoping to design in the new building is more of a mixed-use facility that could be used for special events," Burt said. "It could be used for concerts."
A building with about 1500 people would cost about $17-20 million according to Lamb.
Students will pay for a large portion of the renovations through an already-approved $180 fitness facility fee. They won't need to pay until the facility is ready for use. The student fees, combined with university contributions, have provided approximately $45 million to invest in these upgrades.
"A portion of the $45 million will go towards the fitness facility and the remainder will go towards the arena," Burt said. "Any left over will go towards the retrofit of the Dalplex."
Burt commented that current hockey game attendance is not very high when asked if being without an arena for four-years will hurt school spirit. He expects that the new arena will bring in many more spectators.
"I think you'll get not only better attendance at hockey games - people like to go to nicer venues for sporting events - but it'll make recruiting players better," Burt said.
He believes the Tigers have been coping with the mediocre locker rooms of the Studley Gymnasium for years.
"The arena has never been functional as an arena," he said. "It has required the gymnasium to keep it going."
Announcement causes confusion
Chris Saulnier, Dalhousie Student Union president, said he has heard considerable feedback in the wake of Tuesday's development on the demolition of Memorial Arena.
"I think there was obviously some confusion today given the article in the Metro (newspaper) that was unclear on the future planning," he said on Wednesday.
Once he explained the university's long term plans for its fitness facilities and hockey arena, concerned students were much more receptive of the news.
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