Operating across three campuses in eastern Ontario, St. Lawrence College (SLC) is one of the province’s leading institutions when it comes to applied arts and technology. Home to roughly 7,000 full-time students, SLC specializes in programs such as applied science and computing, baccalaureate nursing, business, community services, justice studies, applied arts, health sciences as well as skilled trades and tourism.
As the institution continues to experience exponential growth, 2018 was the year that saw exciting projects come to fruition at the school’s flagship campus in Kingston. As part of the Hello Future Capital Project, renovations and a new build to the Student Life and Innovation Centre got underway after over 80 percent voted in favour of supporting the project in a student referendum.
The new spaces include a licensed pub for students and the community, additional study, social and meeting space, enhanced fitness facilities, a new sports field, as well as the development of a new, larger gymnasium that will facilitate additional recreational and intramural activities.
Working closely with our partners at both M. Sullivan & Son Limited and Shoalts & Zaback Architects Ltd., our team was brought into the project to aid in outfitting the new gymnasium with state-of-the-art athletic equipment. Working with a blank canvas in a newly designed facility, our team paid careful attention to the needs and requirements of SLC and worked diligently with key stakeholders to ensure the proper products were selected, customized and installed on schedule.
Beginning with the seating, we supplied and installed our durable, tough, fully electric long-lasting Kodiak telescopic bleacher systems with enough seating to accommodate over 1,400 spectators inside the gymnasium. These bleachers were custom designed with eight recoverable, accessible notched-out seating areas, custom-end curtains with the school’s logo and a customized rise and run combination, allowing for top-level entry from the upper concourse.
Continuing on the floor level, our team supplied and installed our professional-grade 7300 series competition volleyball system complete with floor sockets, four one-court heavy-duty portable badminton systems and eight additional fixed recreational volleyball systems with floor sockets as well.
Looking up, we also installed a total of six basketball backstops complete with regulation-sized glass backboards, state-of-the-art breakaway goals, PMCE, custom shot clock mounts and highly customized framing and attachment structures to accommodate the high ceilings.
Finally, to divide the space, the school selected our classically designed fold-up gym divider curtain, providing reliable electric operation to quickly and safely separate the gymnasium when needed.
The new facility was officially unveiled earlier this month and we could not be happier to have been a part of the development of yet another Canadian institution experiencing exponential growth and providing additional opportunities to local students here in eastern Ontario.