SUDBURY -- A new student centre was unveiled at Sudbury's Laurentian University on Monday.
Five years ago, the Student General Association (SGA) at the post-secondary school held a referendum asking student if they wanted the centre.
The answer was "yes" and over the past five years it’s been built.
It’s a bright state-of-the-art facility with study areas, a coffee shop, a recreation area, and gathering rooms.
"I think this is going to be a great place for students to come. It’s a very inviting building, very warm and cozy. So, they can study here, we have a lot of study rooms, as well as just hang out, we have some games downstairs," said student Marina Tusz.
"Provides them not only the opportunity to study, to work in groups, but also social spaces, where they can sit relax, develop friendships," said Laurentian University President Dr. Robert Hache.
Kraymr Grenke was the 2016-2017 SGA president.
"It’s about open space. You can tell the windows and the architecture that was built in this building didn’t want to seem like it’s a closed off building. We wanted to see it open and we wanted the advancement of technology and to able to adapt to that," said Grenke.
Eric Chappell is the current SGA president.
"When you have an association that is run by student leaders that are all in their early 20’s and you have a project that requires a $10 million loan, not many students have the experience on how to do that," said Chappell.
Administration at Laurentian collaborated with the students to make the centre a reality.
Lorella Hayes is the vice-president of administration at the school.
"It’s certainly a complex project. Constructing a brand new facility, takes a lot of time, energy, and dedication, and our team certainly accomplished that," said Hayes.
Over the past five years, fees from the SGA have been helping to pay for the new building.
The university is paying for utilities and the upkeep of this new student space.
