Upgrades for Lorne Davies Complex set to begin in April

Work is underway for renovated and updated athletic and recreation program spaces at the Burnaby campus.

Originally constructed in 1965, with additions over the years, the Lorne Davies Complex (LDC) requires extensive upgrades to provide a continued safe and healthy environment and to enhance the student, athlete and community experience.

Following the previous story and notification to impacted groups in December 2022, timelines and further details are now confirmed for the LDC renewal project. Starting mid-March, some sections of the LDC will need to be closed and programs/services moved to alternative locations until planned completion in 2025.

Main closures include the east gym and swimming pool, general change rooms, varsity team rooms, Athletics and Recreation administration offices, football coaches’ offices and NCAA academic centre.

Key Closure Dates:

While work on the swimming pool is conducted, the varsity swim team will be relocated to an off-campus pool within the City of Burnaby. During construction, a temporary Athletes’ Village, located adjacent to the Dining Commons near West Gym, will provide secure designated team rooms for NCAA varsity teams. Temporary lockers and change areas will be available to recreation patrons within the LDC. Access to the climbing wall will be limited during construction.

Over the next couple weeks, wayfinding signage to temporary or swing space(s) will be installed through the main LDC access points for users to access Athletics and Recreation services and programming.

The LDC renewal project will feature programmatic upgrades including updated general change rooms, varsity team rooms, a refinished pool deck and a new wrestling training room. The focus of the work will be within the 1960s original building and will involve seismic, mechanical and plumbing upgrades.  While construction is under way, the remainder of the LDC will remain open for the SFU community including: the fitness centre and studio, central gym and lobby, west gym, squash courts, equipment room, varsity weight room, sports medicine clinic, the SFU Stadium and more.

Renewal of the LDC, the central hub for students participating and competing in recreational activities, programs, intramural and varsity sports is led by Architects Perkins + Will, who  designed the SFU Stadium and the new Student Union Building.

The Lorne Davies Complex renewal project demonstrates SFU’s ongoing commitment to providing a continued safe and healthy environment that ensures student-athlete success and encourages active living. 

Progress updates and impacts to the SFU community will continue to be shared throughout the duration of the project. For more information about the Lorne Davies Complex renewal project, temporary closures, relocated programs, open facilities, visit the project page here.