Cornell Community Centre & Library - NOW OPEN!

The new Cornell Community Centre & Library is located along the east edge of the existing Markham Stouffville Hospital on Bur Oak Avenue at Church Street. The community centre has direct connection to the Markham Stouffville Hospital and combined will create a unique “campus” promoting health & wellness through active lifestyles.

The community centre includes:

• Triple Gymnasium
• Aquatics Centre with change rooms
• Library
• Health and Fitness Centre
• Indoor Track
• Rehearsal hall and multi-use rooms
• Multi-Sensory Room
• Indoor Children’s Playground
• Older Adult Centre
• Youth Centre
• Food and Beverage Outlet
• Community Engagement

Triple Gymnasium (Triple Gym 13,057 sq ft)

This space is the largest gymnasium in the City’s recreation inventory. The gymnasium can accommodate but is not limited to badminton, basketball, and volleyball. There will be bleacher seating for 200 spectators. The gym will be programmed with pre-registered and drop-in recreation programs for pre-school, children, youths, adults and seniors. Space will also be available to the residents and community groups on a rental basis for leagues and/or individual activities.

Photo taken August 21, 2012                                                   Photo taken October 23, 2012

Aquatics Centre (18,556 sq ft)

This aquatics centre is the largest in the City’s recreation inventory. The centre will feature competitive, leisure, and warm water therapy tanks, a water slide and a splash pad. Spectator seating for 200 in a viewing balcony overlooks the tank and deck area. The 25m x 8 lane tank is designed as a competitive pool which will host several competitions for our local swim clubs. Aquatic activities will include recreational, lane, and parent & tot swims, and learn to swim programs including pre-school, swimmer, teen and adult sessions. Lifeguard and instructor programs will also be offered. The therapy pool will include aquafitness classes and joint programs with Markham-Stouffville Hospital.

Photos taken August 22, 2012

Photos taken October 23, 2012

Library (25,000 sq ft)

The Cornell Branch of the Markham Public Library will include a 2,000 sq ft medical library operated in partnership with Markham Stouffville Hospital. Features of the library include;

• A teen area where teens can gather, socialize and work together
• Seven study rooms
• A media lab
• A fun and engaging children’s area to support the development of literacy skills and school success.

The library will also feature self-serve options that include self check out and automated check-in, which will provide you with a receipt for your returned items. As with our other library branches, there will be lots of comfy seating, computers with internet access and productivity tools (Word, Excel, etc.), wifi, study space and program and meeting space.

Photo taken August 22, 2012                                                    Photo taken October 23, 2012

Cornell Health & Fitness Centre (7,330 sq ft)

The Health & Fitness centre will offer a large open area equipped with state-of-the-art exercise equipment. This will be a membership club operated the same as the fitness centres at Thornhill and Centennial Community Centres. The studio, located on the second level and overlooking the main gym area will offer a variety of fitness programs for the community.

Main Gym Area                                                                           Fitness Studio

Photo taken August 21, 2012                                                Photo taken October 23, 2012

Indoor Track (500’ Length)

This wide, three lane indoor track is elevated above the gymnasium floor and will provide an excellent area to facilitate runners and walkers who are members of the Cornell Health & Fitness Centre

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Photo taken August 21, 2012                                    Photo taken November 2012

Rehearsal Hall (4,438 sq ft)

Located on the second level of the centre, this acoustically designed space will provide an excellent venue for local performance and cultural groups to practice and rehearse. The hall provides private break-out rooms and a main area with retractable seating for 200. Built to rehearsal standards, there is no stage, which allows for a large open area ideal for dance, theatre, band and orchestra rehearsals.

Photo taken August 21, 2012                                                     Photo taken October 23, 2012                                          

Multi-Sensory Room (330 sq ft)

Controlled Multi-sensory Environment (MSE) is a therapy for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities, dementia, brain injury and even toddlers. Often referred to as a “Snoezelen Room” this space at the centre will provide a soothing and stimulating environment.The room has been specifically designed and equipped to deliver stimuli to the various senses, using lighting effects, colour, sounds, music and scents. The combination of different materials on the walls and floor can be explored using tactile senses.

Children’s Indoor Playground (1,690 sq ft)

This dedicated space will provide an area for children to play in a safe, controlled, fun environment. The room will feature a “soft play” indoor playground system including a variety of equipment to physically and mentally stimulate children.

Photo taken August 21, 2012

Older Adults Centre (1,680 sq ft)

The centre will provide programs and services that promote:

• Independent living
• Empowerment
• Community involvement
• Public education
• Advocacy
• Socializing, friendships and partnerships
• Physical activity

This area provides a large, open area to accommodate activities such as bridge or euchre card games, table tennis, Mah Jong, Yoga and Zumba Classes.

Photo taken August 21, 2012

Youth Centre (1,755 sq ft)

The Youth Centre provides a large main area for programs and activities such as games, karaoke, table tennis, pool, table hockey, etc. A separate but attached room is designed as a TV lounge where youths can sit and watch movies and programs.

Photo taken August 21, 2012

Community Engagement

Recreation staff are engaging community groups and individuals to provide an comments, suggestions and ideas on what activities and programs they would like to see at the new facility. Information sessions are being scheduled early this fall to capture this information and also to introduce the community to the new Cornell Community Centre & Library.

Details on facility bookings and drop in activities in 2012 will be announced closer to the opening date of the centre. Programs and drop-in activities for 2013 will be included in the Winter 2013 edition of Markham Life magazine, scheduled for delivery the week of November 5, 2012.

Photo taken August 21, 2012                                                Photo taken October 23, 2012