Summer start to D.C. Student Building

Ground should be broken for the
Douglas College Student Society’s new
building by this summer, and the project
completed sometime in 1996, says Student
Society Treasurer Julian Smit.

As well as the services currently
offered to students, the three-story
structure, to be located adjacent to the
library, will contain a cafeteria,
meeting rooms, women’s
centre, student society
administration —

they are a society, not a union. For the
time being, it will be known simply as the
Student Building. Smit notes that a new
building is not an attempt by students to
isolate themselves from the current
campus.

“Groups like the Lesbian, Gay &
Bisexual Collective and the United

 

 

 

 

 

    
   
  
  
 
 
  
 

offices, games
room,
multi-

and areas
for students to hang
out. A special
occasion liquor license
will let the Student Society or
clubs hold pub nights.

“As the College has grown over
the years, the undesignated areas where
students can meet and socialize have
disappeared. The concourse, beautiful as
it is, is cold in winter, hot in summer, and
there’s no level of even semi-privacy,”
says Smit. “With growth in this College,
and new facilities in Maple Ridge and
Coquitlam, we need space as a society to
do things. Right now we don’t even have
a work area -- we have to make banners in
the concourse.”

Smit says that the new structure can’t
be called a student union building because

 

 

Club have
reached the
point where they
need space to meet,
telephones and
computer services. The
Student Society also needs
computer access to College
policies and student information, and
will eventually need access to the
College’s internet account.

We’ re not building to get away from
the College. It’s that we need something
that the College can’t provide.”

CJP Architects is now working with
the Student Society on space planning for
the new building, which will be
completely wheelchair accessible and
attached to the present structure by a
protected walkway outside the theatre

Nations

foyer by the Community Programs &
Services office. Another entrance will be
located off 7th Street. Other features will
include a board room and an indoor
smoking area vented to outside to meet
city bylaws.

Cost of the structure will be 3 to $3.5
million. $1.2 million has been collected

ROYAL AVENUE

esen ee er
9

in
student
levies,
and $2
million in
additional funds
will be raised under
Section 22, whereby the
College can raise money
by debenture issue for
revenue producing properties.
The College will manage the
construction and own the building,
leasing it to the Student Society.
“Tt would cost too much to manage the
project ourselves, and the College has the
expertise,” says Smit.

 

Quote of the Month:

British Columbians like to
think of their province as a
large body of land entirely
surrounded by envy.

- Eric Nicol