“To be honest, it was very surprising, pleasantly surprising to be able to see the end,” said NUTV executive director Michelle Wong. “The concept of the new space is almost a one-eighty from the non-accessible, non-visible place we had before.”
Located for some time in Taco Time’s old kitchen, NUTV will move into a 2,500 square foot studio space on the third floor. The concept of the new office is based on transparency and will be more noticeable and available, allowing students to watch the station at work.
Wong described the office as basic, bright and open and it will be painted in a coloured television bar scheme.
NUTV will also be introducing some new ideas to coincide with the new development.
“One major thing we’re doing is soliciting TV pilots this summer, seeing how it goes and then giving shows to different organizations,” she said.
The Chaplain’s Centre also sees the potential for increased programming in its new prayer space.
“The primary thing about the larger space is that we’ll have the ability to enable more people to affirm their faith,” said Chaplain’s Centre director Kelly Johnson.”We have a very active Sikh group on campus, as well as active Muslims and Christians. We also see potential to connect with the Native Centre here on campus.”
Johnson hopes the bigger area will make the Chaplain’s Centre more accessible to the student population. The new washrooms on the floor will also include footbaths for Muslim students.
Students’ Union vice-president operations and finance Joel Lockwood said the expansion is a good way to bring about increased activity and innovation at the university.
“It’s not really a one-step process, it’s a different way of thinking,” he said. “The new space certainly helps foster student participation.”
Also in the works for the third floor development is a Women’s Centre, which is still undergoing negotiations with the SU, but is slated to open in December 2006.
“We are currently in the process of meeting with different stakeholder groups in order to see what people want on campus,” said special advisor to the president on student life Sheila O’Brien.”Our focus is supporting the academic plan and providing a gathering place. We want it to be a place of kindness where people can feel welcome and valued.”
A donation of $100,000 has been provided for the space by a private donor, who will be revealed when the centre opens in the future. O’Brien explained this funding will cover infrastructure and also some programs.
“We don’t want to deliver a bunch of services that are already available,” said advisor to the president on women’s issues Dr. Claudia Emes, who is spearheading the project with O’Brien. “It will be a bright and warm place that people can use as a central hub or contact point on campus. We will be meeting on Apr. 10 from 1-3 p.m. in the Rozsa Centre where students can come and tell us what they want to see.”
Lockwood emphasized that the rest of the project on the third floor is very close to completion.
“We’re done 92 per cent of it,” he said. “We just need to do some more work on the ceiling, some painting, work on hardware, and then clean up, then we’re finished.”
In all, the total cost of the development, excluding the Women’s Centre and CJSW’s agreement, was approximately $1.3 million.