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:

• Ken Marchant (1977- 1994)
• Judy Smith (1994- 2019)
• Andrew Harding (2019 – present)

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

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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

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.^[12]

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

References