Grad student commons 'comfortable for everyone'

November 13, 2009

During a recent autumn afternoon, the light pours through the magnificent stained glass windows lining the walls of Emmanuel and St. Chad’s – the new Graduate Students Association (GSA) Commons.

Nicholas Fraser, president of the GSA, stands in the middle of the facility amongst wood, power tools, and a handful of renovators who are busy putting together the kitchenette on the west end of the building. Although the project is a few months behind schedule, Fraser is extremely pleased with how the new commons is shaping up.

Renovations should be completed by December, he said, and the GSA is poised to move into the space in January. With a renovation price tag of about $500,000 – a cost covered by the GSA, the university, and a few private donors – the project ran a bit over budget, he said, but that everything has worked out well. 

As a former church, the building had to be completely re-purposed from its religious origins.

“We had the building de-consecrated to cleanse and purify the space. There is still Christian symbolism but I think this space is comfortable for everyone.”

Fraser points out where the offices will be, the kitchenette (which will double as a bar if the GSA can get a liquor licence), and where students can lounge and watch TV. The facility is also being retrofitted for wheelchairs and audible accessibility for the hearing impaired.  

“This space will be great for holding events,” he added.