Varsity Athletics | 3/13/2025 1:00:00 PM

In 2023, the 11,000-square-foot Tait McKenzie Fitness Centre started Phase 1 of upgrades by switching out the cardio equipment with electricity generating equipment to match the University's commitment to affordable and clean energy.  

Soon after the installation, Athletics & Recreation (A&R) turned its eye to other worn-down equipment and spaces that were in a serious need to be upgraded to match industry standards and community needs. 

Almost immediately following the successful completion of the cardio equipment, A&R shifted its focus to other equipment in its Fitness Centre, mainly the strength equipment. All pieces have been in place since 2016, outside of the Pulse Accessibility Equipment that was officially installed in 2020. However, the membership's needs have changed, and A&R knew modifications were required to match the more knowledgeable members that were entering its space but also cater to the individuals who are just beginning their exercise journey.  

"Student feedback was at the heart of our fitness centre upgrade. They wanted more versatile, functional, and inclusive strength training options, so we prioritized multi-use equipment and a redesign of the flooring in some areas that maximizes space and supports diverse training styles," said Interim Associate Director, Campus Recreation Art McDonald. "This update reflects industry trends—more plate-loaded stations and functional rigs, ensuring the facility meets evolving needs. It builds on last year's sustainability-focused cardio upgrade, creating a space that aligns with both student preferences and overall well-being."
 

Not only were the equipment choices important, but the layout change, and other added features was a key component to the strength equipment overhaul and design. 

As the opportunity presented itself, the strength equipment expansion also provided two of the studios spaces a bit of an upgrade. The High-Performance Centre (HPC), the designated space for York's varsity teams to practice, and Studio 1 had been under-utilized due to limits on equipment in those rooms. The HPC, which is also used for special programs and the WITS Personal Training Certification, installed 4 new squat racks to better help the athletes with their training.

The recent changes to the High Performance Centre are designed to enhance the training experience for our varsity student-athletes," said York Manager, Sport Medicine Andrea Prieur. "With the expanded space and additional equipment, athletes now have more opportunities to get on the equipment more frequently and for less waiting time. These improvements not only streamline their training but also allow for more focused, consistent development, which is key to their success in competition."

Studio 1, which is used for group classes, personal training, varsity overflow, and group rentals, received the 4 squat racks from the HPC to be repurposed there, while also getting two new Keiser Cable machines, better storage solutions for the smaller pieces of equipment, as well as a new set of dumbbells. 

In place since March 7, the Fitness Centre and studios major upgrade has seen less wait times for machines, less wait times for maintenance pieces, as well as lower maintenance costs. The Fitness Centre plans to make some final changes to overturn the last few pieces of Matrix Selectorized equipment that is still in good working order.

However, that's not all. Additionally, to the strength equipment upgrades, the Student Fieldhouse, where many drop-in sports, and intramurals leagues and tournaments received some upgrades.  

In November 2024, upgrades started just before exam season, where the Student Fieldhouse got significantly brighter with a re-vamp of the lights by switching to LED lights, a much more energy-efficient solution, with a lifespan of 170,000 hours and equipped with glare control lenses and heavy-duty cages.

Then, in January 2025, more work started on the Student Fieldhouse to reline the floors to provide more OUA level opportunities to the university and badminton club.

"With upgraded lighting and refinished floors, the Tait McKenzie Fieldhouse instantly has a much more welcoming vibe for Intramural student-athletes," said York Manager, Intramural Sport, Sport Clubs, Aquatics & First Aid Neil Steffler. "Its five new badminton courts allow us to expand our drop-in sport offerings to meet the needs of a very active and diverse student population.  Overall, the Fieldhouse is a more attractive, safe, and inclusive space as a result of the recent upgrades." 

These renovations are a prime example of A&R's commitment to enhancing student and user experience in its hub facility. 

"These upgrades to the Tait McKenzie Centre were a key priority for Athletics & Recreation, and we are thrilled at the outcome of this project," said York Executive Director, Athletics & Recreation Steven Chuang. "It was important to us to enhance the experience of our students, and the new state-of-the-art equipment we have added to our fitness centre goes a long way toward accomplishing that goal.  

"As one of the largest universities in the country, we have not only a desire, but a responsibility to serve a variety of stakeholders, and we feel these refurbishments to the fitness centre, high performance centre, Studio 1 and Student Fieldhouse will lead to an increased user experience for years to come." 

For those interested in accessing the Tait McKenzie Centre, membership information can be found here. The Tait McKenzie Centre is open from 7 am-11:00 pm.

PHOTO GALLERIES
FITNESS CENTRE
FIELDHOUSE