UBC Okanagan, its Student Union and the City of Kelowna announced a partnership to develop a new three-court recreation facility on campus.
The announcement was made with a ceremonial shovel turning near the project site, Thursday.
The recreation centre is being designed as a 37,000-square-foot facility with an estimated cost of $26 million to $28 million. It will be owned and operated by UBC Okanagan, with completion anticipated for 2028, subject to final UBC Board of Governors approval on budget and design later this year.
Under a 25-year service agreement, the City of Kelowna will secure access to one-third of operating hours across the new facility to deliver City recreation programming.
“Today’s milestone was driven by students and made possible by partnership across UBC, the City of Kelowna and our community of donors,” says Dr. Lesley Cormack, Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at UBC Okanagan. “This new facility will create much-needed space for intramurals, fitness, student programming and community use, and will strengthen the kind of partnership that allows a university and a city to grow together.”
A dedicated student levy will fund $7million of the facility. UBC matched the commitment as well as the City of Kelowna with a one-time investment. UBCO says community and donor philanthropy will help the original two-court facility change to a three-court design and fill the remaining funds.
“This partnership with UBC Okanagan is a practical investment that delivers long-term value for Kelowna residents,” says City of Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas. “Through a one-time contribution and strong community collaboration, we are securing guaranteed community access to a new recreation facility, expanding programming options for our residents. It is a strong example of how collaboration allows us to manage growth responsibly and deliver results that support health and quality of life for our community.”
For UBC Okanagan, the facility will substantially increase capacity for intramurals, fitness and student programming. It will allow growth of established programs such as Jr. Heat youth basketball and volleyball, expand summer sports camp capacity and create a dedicated, year-round training space for UBC Okanagan Heat student-athletes. The added court capacity, combined with the existing campus gym, also positions the campus to host regional events, tournaments and provincial competitions that the existing facilities have not been able to accommodate.
“In 2023, UBC Okanagan students voted to invest in a facility even though most of us who voted will graduate before the project is complete,” says Naden Qually, Vice-President External for the Students’ Union Okanagan of UBC. “Students have been advocating for expanded recreation space for a long time, and it is exciting to see what we can achieve when students, the university and community partners come together to invest in future students. It adds to a longstanding tradition of current students leaving behind a stronger and more prosperous campus community once they graduate.”
Early site preparation is underway at UBC Okanagan’s Nonis Sports Field, adjacent to the existing gymnasium. Final project designs are subject to UBC Board of Governors review and approval later in 2026, with the facility targeted to open in 2028.
