The JDUC revitalization project hits another roadblock with the move-in timeline, leaving students in limbo amid construction delays.
Days before the previously announced occupancy date, the University announced on Nov. 27 that the JDUC revitalization project wouldn’t receive an occupancy permit on Nov. 29 as planned. The permit for the previously existing areas of the building is now expected on Dec. 6. According to the Queen’s Gazette, student clubs can begin moving in without requiring protective safety gear after this date. New areas of the building, including the Agora and retail spaces, are anticipated to receive occupancy permits “on or around Dec. 23.”
“The project team has tentatively scheduled mid-January for the revitalized JDUC to be open to the public. Updates are being provided to stakeholders on a weekly basis,” the Gazette wrote.
READ MORE: JDUC opening postponed until November
Built in 1949 and owned by Queen’s, the JDUC has been managed by the AMS, excluding the student residences. The revitalization, which began in 2015, was officially launched in 2018 in collaboration with the Society of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS). Delayed twice from May 2021 to May 2022, the project is now $23 million over budget, with student fees covering most of the cost increase.
In 2019, a redevelopment plan for the JDUC was approved following a campus-wide referendum. The fee passed by a narrow margin of 210 votes, with 52.3 per cent of eligible AMS voters casting ballots. Both AMS and SGPS students agreed to fund the project through student fees, which would be repaid after the University covered the initial costs from a cash reserve.
In a Nov. 27 communications update, the AMS clarified occupancy means a building is complete enough for stakeholders and staff to enter without construction gear. Readiness, on the other hand, refers to the point when the building is prepared for services, stores, and groups to move in and begin operating.
In an interview with The Journal, AMS President Owen Rocchi said the AMS defines readiness as a multi-step process, beginning with achieving occupancy, followed by ensuring all necessary setups are completed, such as Wi-Fi installation and the move-in of services and offices. Rocchi emphasized different services would have varying timelines for move-in, depending on their needs.
READ MORE: What’s the deal with the JDUC?
“There have been so many delays where, at this point, we’re just making sure it can happen over the next few months and we’re confident it’s going to happen. […] It’s going to be done eventually, but it has been really hard coming into my role, thinking it [move-in] was going to be in the summer,” Rocchi said.
Rocchi expressed his frustration with the ongoing changes to the move-in timeline, noting the disappointment of having to repeatedly announce new dates to AMS members. Consequently, the AMS has decided to withhold setting a specific move-in date until they receive further updates.
“It’s honestly just disappointing having to go back to our membership with a new date every time. Because of that, we’re just waiting until we have a more concrete idea. We think it’s irresponsible to continue to give new dates when we could be given information any day that that would be a new date to shift,” Rocchi said.
While the delays have been ongoing, Rocchi wants to ensure students remain excited for the services coming to the JDUC, including the revamped Queen’s Pub and The Brew.
“This [the JDUC project] has been the result of almost a decade of AMS advocacy and student advocacy, namely. So, at the end of the day, this is still a huge win for students. I want to make sure people don’t get that twisted, and I just can’t wait until it’s done. […] I can’t wait to go back home,” Rocchi said.
READ MORE: AMS’s move to JDUC pushed back after construction delays
The SGPS committed $5.9 million to the JDUC redevelopment project, funded through graduate student activity fees starting at $40 per year in Fall 2019, with annual adjustments for inflation. The new SGPS spaces in the JDUC will include a reception area, a boardroom and a working space for executives and staff, among other spaces.
In a statement to The Journal, SGPS President Emils Matiss acknowledged the repeated construction delays and shared anticipation of wanting to see the building open to students as soon as possible.
“Regrettably, we have seen many projected dates and numerous delays. While I hesitate to provide a firm estimate, I anticipate that the building will be ready for public use in the early new year,” Matiss said.
Tags
AMS / SGPS, JDUC, JDUC Delay, JDUC revitalization
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