The project received conditional Board 3 approval from the UBC Board of Governors on June 29, 2022. The new facility will provide much needed recreation space including a state of the art fitness centre, three gymnasiums, an indoor track, and many other amenities.
Planning for a new recreation centre emerged from the UBC GamePlan: 20-year Recreation and Athletics Facilities Strategy, which involved public consultation and was approved by the Board of Governors in April 2017. The strategy supports UBC’s commitment to wellbeing by meeting a growing need for recreational fitness and gymnasium space.
Latest Updates
6-month progression of Rec North in 12 seconds. 🔨
Look how far we`ve gotten!
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What`s your favourite Rec North feature?
💪 41,500sqft of NEW Fitness Space - that`s 3x UBC`s current fitness space!
👨🦽 Run, Roll & Walk Indoor Track
🚻 Largest Universal Change area on campus
🏀 3-Court Gymnasium
Rec North will offer UBC students a diverse offering of activities, ample room to move, and an inclusive space to connect with each other.
*Please note* Footages were captured at different stages of construction; current progress may exceed what`s depicted.
Follow @ubcrec for the latest on Rec North!
Link in our bio to learn more.
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Rec North is making significant progress towards being fully enclosing with walls/glazing by Spring 2024. 👏 This milestone marks a crucial step forward in our project.
While all this is surely exciting, it`s worth noting that once the bulding is enclosed, the fully exposed views will be gone for good. So, let`s make the most of it and enjoy the scenery while we still can! 😀 How many UBC buildings were you able to spot? 👀
Stay in the loop with the latest updates on Rec North by following @ubcrec. #Link in bio to learn more.
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Steel Beam Ceremony Marks Another Rec North Milestone
October 23, 2023
Construction begins on Rec North
October 4, 2022
Learn About the Project
The Recreation Centre North facility will be built on the large plaza space situated immediately north of the UBC Life Building (formerly the Student Union Building) and at the western end of Student Union Boulevard. Located at the heart of UBC’s Vancouver campus, the building will include an outdoor walkway corridor at ground level to allow foot traffic to readily flow through the area.
The building is designed by SHAPE Architecture and features an indoor floor area of 101,000 square feet spread over four levels, including three gymnasium courts; an indoor run, roll, walk track; cardio and weightlifting areas; multipurpose rooms; universal and gender-specific change areas; and administrative offices. The Recreation Centre North will also be constructed to a LEED Gold green building standard and is Rick Hansen Foundation Certified.
Construction will begin in 2022 with an anticipated completion in late 2024. The estimated cost is $67.5 million including contributions from Alma Mater Society (AMS) student fees, donors, and UBC.
View the Facility
Floor Plans & Use of Space
See how the Student Recreation Centre North is taking shape by clicking through the floor plans below. Click on the images below to see an overview of each floor as well as see how feedback from previous surveys and consultation have informed the planning of this new facility.
Entry level & primary access from exterior 
Three court gymnasium & second level of fitness area 
Run, roll, walk track (open to gym courts below) & third level of fitness area 
Fourth level of fitness area
Activate UBC | Help Build Rec North
Thank you to supporters of the Activate UBC campaign that is helping to build Recreation Centre North.
This new activity and fitness centre will provide the UBC community a space to connect and get moving. The new building will house state-of-the-art exercise opportunities including three full gymnasiums courts, strength and cardio equipment, functional training and multipurpose spaces, running track and more. This facility will support our UBC student’s fitness and wellbeing goals and will provide them a space to prioritize their mental and physical health while they are pursuing their academic achievements. Recreation Centre North will add a much needed 41,500 square feet of fitness and activity space providing UBC students, staff and community members the room to move!
Builders
$1000 or more
Abdulaziz Al-Fahim, PhD
Benevity
Vicky Ru-Yun Cheng
Janet & Nils Clarke
Nestor & Lindsey Korchinsky
George Morfitt
Atila & Gillian Ozkaplan
Yumin Benjamin Qiu
Alexander Remtulla
Leo Tam
Ken Teskey
Joanie Pilcher
Contributors
$50-$999
Tiffany & Brian Johns
Michael Brewer
Bryan Chang
Erin Connors
Cybergrants
Suna Jung
Alexandra Kroetsch
Krish Maharaj, PhD
Kim Mayes
David Medilek
Mrigank Sharma and Family
Ashley Shepherd
Kate & Darren Thomson
Brian White
With support from UBC leadership and students we are endeavoring to raise $5,000,000 to complete the funding of the new Recreation Centre North on campus.
- Gifts of $1,000 (or a pledge of $84 per month for 12 months) or more will be recognized on the recreation centre donor wall that will also honour the history of recreation and intramurals.
- All gifts over $50 will be recognized digitally on recreation.ubc.ca.
The Activate UBC campaign is the final piece of the puzzle that will complete the funding to make this vision of a new fitness and activity centre a reality. We need your support today more than ever to realize our goals of bringing UBC the brand new, significantly expanded Recreation Centre North to campus.