Langille Athletic Centre Explained


The Langille Athletic Centre, otherwise known as the LAC, is the campus athletic centre/gym for Dalhousie's Agricultural College. It is located at 20 Cumming Drive, Bible Hill, NS.[1] The facility is the hub for athletics on campus, as well as hosts exams and convocation every year. Athletics are an integral part of college life which the campus serves through the Langille Athletic Centre.

History

The Langille Athletic Center was completed in 1977 by Robert J. Flinn (1928-2018) of Halifax and the Robert J. Flinn Design Group.[2] The building is faced with insulated precast concrete panels of aggregate rock which are attached to the walls as exterior cladding. A unique design feature are the two 5' diameter circular bubble windows or plexiglass domes on the northeast facade. These include a 3" deep, 45 degree recessed aluminum frame which prevent water damage and create shadows on the building. These two clear domes are repeated and contrasted in the two circular black ducts on the opposite southwest facade. [3] The building represents a historical context to Truro, Nova Scotia as well as institutional design and campus architecture. The Langille Athletic Center is an excellent example of that short and distinct transitional period between modernist and postmodenist architecture styles.[4]

Originally called the Nova Scotia Agriculture College Athletic Centre, then named in honour of Mr. Winston Langille in 1991.[5] Mr. Langille Studied Chemistry at Acadia University, earning a Bachelor of Science and then going on to earn a Master of Science from McGill University. Later in life he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Laws from Acadia University. Mr. Langille taught Chemistry and Soil Science at the Dalhousie's Agricultural College (formerly Nova Scotia Agricultural College) until his retirement and was also heavily involved in coaching varsity teams for the college. Mr. Langille was also an avid athlete himself, playing everything from baseball, hockey, rugby, tennis, golf, and curling.[6] Mr. Langille died in 2018 but will always be remembered at the Langille Athletic Centre for his contribution to the Dal AC campus.

Past and Present Athletic Directors for the Langille Athletic Centre include:

Other staff members include the program/project assistant, the facility supervisor, custodians,  and a team of student staff consisting of Dal AC students.[7]

Hours of operation

September - AprilMay - JuneJuly - August
Mon-Fri6 am - 10 pm6 am - 9 pm6 am - 9 pm
Saturday1 pm - 5 pm1 pm - 5 pmClosed
Sunday1 pm - 10 pm6 pm - 10 pm6 pm - 10 pm
[8]

Varsity Teams

The Langille Athletic Centre is home to a number of varsity sports teams which compete in their respective league and have won a number of notable titles since their conception. The mascot for the campus, as well as the Langille Athletic Centre is a ram, otherwise known as Rocky the ram

Men's and Women's Soccer

Compete in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association[9]

Men's and Women's Basketball

Compete in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association

Women's Volleyball

Compete in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association

Men's and Women's Cross Country

Compete in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association

Men's and Women's Badminton

Compete in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association

Men's and Women's Woodsmen

Compete in the Canadian Intercollegiate Lumber-jacking Association[10]

Equestrian

Compete in the Atlantic Intercollegiate Equestrian League[11] * results data only available since the team became varsity in 2015/2016

Additionally, there have been a number of varsity sports team in the past that no longer exist on the Dal AC campus,[12] these include:

Women's Field Hockey

Men's Volleyball

Men's and Women's Golf

Women's Rugby

The facility has also hosted a number of national championships for the varsity leagues

Facility Equipment

The Langille Athletic Centre provides an extensive range of equipment and space for use for students and members of the community. The facility includes a full-sized outdoor soccer field, full-sized basketball court, with six retractable basketball nets and room for six badminton/Pickleball nets or two side-by-side volleyball nets, it also has a half-sized court used as a stage which has two basketball nets and room for one badminton/pickleball net or one volleyball net. There is also a free weight area for lifting weights which includes a functional fitness room fitted with various plyometric/calisthenics equipment and a cardio area fitted with treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, a stair mill, rower and assistive weight machines. There are also two squash courts and one racquetball court available for use and all necessary sports equipment is available for loan at the facility. Additionally, there are gendered full-sized locker rooms including washrooms and showers for the facility users.

Memberships

Memberships are available to the community for purchase with many different membership options including discounts for non-Dal AC students, Dal AC faculty, Dal AC alumni and seniors. In addition to regular memberships, there are also 1-month memberships, 10 visit punch passes, and drop in rates available.[13] Memberships for current Dal AC students is included in their college tuition.

Special Programs and Event

Programs

The Langille Athletic Centre has a number of special programs offered for students and members with many more short-term programs occurring frequently. Established programs include

Events

Special events that are hosted annually are:

The facility also plays host for a number of events such as badminton provincials and other local sporting groups during the year.[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 20 Cumming Dr Unit 6. 20 Cumming Dr Unit 6. en. 2019-03-28.
  2. Web site: https://nsaa.ns.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2018-2019_NSAA_AR.pdf8.
  3. Web site: Dalhousie University Archives - Archives Catalogue .
  4. Web site: Aural Analysis of the Peri-Rural .
  5. Web site: campus/about/history.html History. Dalhousie University. 2019-03-28.
  6. Web site: Winston "Win" Murray Langille. Mattatall~Varner Funeral Home. 2019-03-28.
  7. Langille Athletic Center Student Employee
  8. Web site: Facilities - Agricultural Campus - Dalhousie University . Dal.ca . 2017-05-06.
  9. Web site: Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Assoc. Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Assoc. en. 2019-03-28.
  10. Web site: Home - CILA. www.cilawoodsmen.ca. 2019-03-28.
  11. Web site: AIEL. AIEL. en. 2019-03-28.
  12. Langille Athletic Center Facility Supervisor
  13. Web site: Gym Memberships & Fees. Dalhousie University. 2019-03-28.
  14. Web site: Home. LeggeHealth.ca. en-US. 2019-03-28.
  15. Web site: Recreation. Dalhousie University. 2019-03-28.
  16. Web site: Fitness Classes. Dalhousie University. 2019-03-28.
  17. Web site: Intramurals. Dalhousie University. 2019-03-28.
  18. Web site: Rocky's 5K Run. Dalhousie University. 2019-03-28.
  19. Web site: Festive Craft Market. Dalhousie University. 2019-03-28.
  20. Web site: Agri‑Golf Classic. Dalhousie University. 2019-03-28.
  21. Web site: Other Events. Dalhousie University. 2019-03-28.