A new era at Ridley
Ridley College officially unveiled two new impressive additions to its campus Saturday, cutting the ceremonial first ribbons on the Evans Athletic Centre and Iggulden Building.
The grand opening was a celebration of more than six years of planning, hard work and fundraising.
“We’ve had a number of opening ceremonies in the last little while, but make no doubt about it today, this is the grand opening,” Ridley headmaster Edward Kidd said.
Melissa Stephens, Director, Strategic Communications and Marketing for Ridley, was thrilled to be able to show off the finished product.
“It’s incredible,” Stephens said. “It’s just so rewarding for everyone involved, not only just the school’s leadership, but its owners to finally see their names on the wall and the recognition and for students, that’s why they do it. This is all for the students to enhance this incredible student experience and everyone is just so grateful right now.
“Just the vibe is just so joyful and happy.”
Kidd was grateful to the more than 400 benefactors who stepped up to make the project a reality, raising more than $51 million.
“We set out to raise $30 million for the capital project and a further $10 million to increase the size of our school’s endowment,” Kidd said. “This was an ambitious target, the largest in our school’s history, but our volunteers and our community rose to the challenge as Ridleians always do. Despite the increase in construction costs and inflation, and a global pandemic, you’re unwavering generosity allowed us to exceed our capital fundraising goals by 40 per cent, ensuring that these new learning spaces would become a reality for our students.”
Both of the new facilities are impressive.
The Evans Athletic Centre, which was officially often in February, features the Jack Aylott Squash Centre; the renovated Griffith Gymnasium; Suzanne Court Family Fitness Centre; La Foundation J-Louis Levesque Yoga Studio; Neil Campbell Rowing Room; Chaplin Family Athletic Therapy Clinic; Susan Hazell Spin Room; New student lock rooms and a renovated triple gymnasium.
Stephens said the new renovations are intended for the community to use as well.
“It’s never just about Ridley,” she said. “We want to be part of the community. We have these spaces now to open up in the evening hours to bring in groups. CYO basketball comes in and uses these facilities and for us to host tournaments.”
The BPSN High School Girls Basketball Tournament will hold games at the new facility Wednesday, Oct. 9 and Thursday, Oct. 10.
The Iggulden Building, which formerly housed a swimming pool and spaces for athletic activities such as squash, badminton, basketball, gymnastics, boxing and fencing, was was open to students last month at the start of the school year.
The building features the Norris Walker Creative Commons; Mitchell Learning Commons; Ron Mannix and Class of 66 Music Centre; Paterson Performance Hall; Shirley and Karl Weinstein Digital Marketplace; Dickinson Pyne Family Foyer; Leggatt Family Art Gallery; Gould Ivey Boardroom; W. Darcy McKeough Commons.
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