Axworthy Health and RecPlex Ribbon-cutting

JUNE 17, 2014: The philosophy behind the concept of the RecPlex was much the same as the Duckworth Centre: an athletic facility designed for the Wesmen, University students and staff, as well as the downtown community surrounding the campus.  Room for the new building was made by demolishing MacNamara Hall and leveling the Alumni Green; wood from the felled trees was reclaimed and used for benches and internal millwork.  It was designed by Number TEN Architectural Group and funded through several corporate and private donations.  The facilities include indoor soccer fields, sprinting tracks, a gymnasium, a climbing wall, batting cages, and a heated underground parkade, as well as office and research space for the Gupta Faculty of Kinesiology and Applied Health.

The building was originally named the United Health and RecPlex. On 6 October 2015, the Board of Regents voted to rename it in honour of Dr. Axworthy and his devotion to the University of Winnipeg’s urban community.  In October 2016, it was awarded LEED Gold designation.