VICTORIA University has made the Bulldogs’ house their home.

VU has opened its $8 million Sport and Recreation Learning Centre at Whitten Oval’s John Gent stand, fortifying the sports triangle between the university, the Western Bulldogs and Maribyrnong College.

The new centre includes teaching and staff facilities for VU’s School of Sport and Exercise Science and the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living.

The space also has a Vocational Education School of Sport and Science massage facility, a Performance Analysis Facility and two shared general purpose tutorial rooms.

“They’ve (the students) got closer access to the Bulldogs players, which means they are exposed to lots of injuries and pathologies that are less common in the general public,” School of Sport and Science senior educator Kevin Skillen said.

Members of the public can also benefit from the facilities, with Vocational Education students offering one-hour consultations from Monday to Thursday.

The new space complements a new major research facility at VU’s Footscray Park campus that will also open later this year.

The facility will have five major sports-related research laboratories, including an altitude hotel, where athletes can mimic training in high altitudes, and a biomechanics lab.

“To be working on the same site as elite professional athletes is unique,” Lecturer and Bulldogs sport scientist Dr Rob Aughey said.

“Both our players and students will benefit from world class support that no other AFL club or tertiary can lay claim to.”

VU also has a stake on the floor above the new centre, which is currently the temporary home for the Department of Education and Early Childhood’s western region office.

VU will convert the top floor into a 130-seat lecture theatre, Sport Psychology Relaxation Unit and three shared general purpose classrooms once the department moves to its permanent home in Footscray’s CBD.

It is expected the changes will not take place for another three years.