HMC Campus Expansion Update
As we begin the gradual process of returning back to campus, many students are wondering what will change and what will stay the same with regards to their college experience. One exciting change on the horizon is the completion of the HMC Student Centre.
The investment in the HMC Student Centre by SSU allows the organization to bring greater equity to students from campus to campus. Students at HMC expressed their interest in having a dedicated student centre, similar to the TRC and Davis Campuses, and the SSU Student Board sought to address that need through this project.
The SSU has committed $19,959, 000 in support of the HMC Student Centre.
In the Spring of 2016, the SSU engaged with multiple partners to work with students at our very first Leadership Symposium to begin crafting our vision of the new HMC Student Centre. Through this Leadership Symposium we were able to receive student feedback and ensure that the vision of our new Student Centre was truly student led. Through the leadership of several Presidents and Boards over the years, critical decisions have been made to ensure student needs were not compromised in the construction and planning of this centre and since the initial symposium in 2016, many strides have been made in the construction of our new Student & Athletics Building.
Each campus community is unique, and it was important for us to know exactly what the students at HMC needed to facilitate an inclusive and welcoming environment. At HMC, there was a strong desire for more study spaces, bookable rooms for clubs and meetings, as well as on-the-go food services. Inclusivity is a part of the fabric of this building as well. With an abundance of glass walls, student will be able to have a glimpse into a variety of activities taking place and feel encouraged to become more involved on campus. The facility will also have several universal washrooms to establish new standards for equitable practices on Sheridan Campuses.
“The new facilities and student centre will provide many services and activities for students to engage in that will help make their transition back to campus that much better. The last virtual year has been challenging, with most students being completely off campus for that entire time. Some students haven’t even stepped foot on campus yet since starting at Sheridan! Hopefully this new building with all its fancy new facilities will be a warm welcome, or welcome back, to everyone as they return to campus. There will be plenty to offer for all students in the new spaces, and I can’t wait to see you all in them.”
All of these spaces within the new facility are designed for students to use them in multiple ways. Throughout the planning process, students have approved all expenditures, design alterations, furnishings and design elements in the HMC building and played a major part in making this space all that it will be. The HMC Student Centre offers an opportunity for students to return to campus with even more access to services and spaces that support their physical health, mental health and overall well-being. Our partnerships with Sheridan College and Sheridan Athletics and played a huge part of the completion of this project and the continued support of the Sheridan community in our TRC and Davis campus renovations is of equal importance to SSU. The HMC student centre is a home for all Sheridan Students to enjoy and we look forward to the opening in the future.
“The new HMC building has been an enormous undertaking between Sheridan Athletics and the SSU, but more importantly, it was a project that has been supported by tens of thousands of students. As we begin to see the end of construction and begin the final touches on the interior of the building, the opening of the building couldn't come at a better time.”- Kyle Budge, SSU President
The new HMC Student Centre is set to open in January 2022. Stay tuned for more updates.