Recently, Convent and Stuart Hall purchased a property at 2835 Geary – an unassuming building located between Wood St and Collins St – with the intention of developing it into an athletics and aquatic centre available for the student body in the near future. A review into public records indicates the building was purchased for $13.5M. At present, the building is around 22,000 square feet and one story in height, however, architectural plans allude to a staggering expansion to as many as four floors, including a fully utilized roof.
The focal point of this ambitious project is a brand new pool intended for both high school and elementary students alike. According to President Dr. Kracarek, children enrolled at Convent and Stuart Hall can now start swimming lessons as early as kindergarten, with classes being incorporated into physical education curriculum and extracurricular activities like swim programs. Additionally, this pool remedies issues faced by the high school swim teams by providing a permanent practice facility and even competition venue.
“I think this new facility will entice lots of new students to take up swimming as their primary sport and may even help attract new families to the Convent and Stuart Hall community.” Junior swim athlete Julian Ray said, voicing his praise for this innovative upcoming project. “The capabilities to develop and produce great swimmers will definitely increase.’
Furthermore, Dr. Kracarek intends for the entire community to be able to take advantage of this new asset, affirming, “the goal is for all of our students to benefit from this.” Practice venues for a plethora of teams can and will be relocated to this venue, for example basketball, in which the building will contain two full-sized courts and as many as 1,200 seats to accommodate for exponentially more fans at home games. On the roof, a turf field — just under regulation varsity soccer size — will be built for any team that might need it for practice like lacrosse, field hockey, and soccer. Additionally, a new gymnasium will be made for any student, athlete or not, to be able to lift weights and train in the offseason. Among all of the aforementioned amenities are a yoga study, study area, and even living quarters for staff of Convent and Stuart Hall.
With such an ambitious vision taking shape, the new athletics and aquatic center promises to be a game-changer for Convent and Stuart Hall. By providing top-tier facilities for student-athletes and expanding opportunities for physical education, the project reflects a commitment to both excellence and inclusivity. As construction progresses, excitement continues to build—both for the athletes who will train here and for the broader community that will benefit from this long-awaited addition.