Along with being the second largest student employer on the University of Oregon campus, between 4,000 and 6,000 students enter the doors the Student Recreation Center every day with between 72 and 75 percent of students taking at least one physical education class during their time here.
When the Rec Center was built in 1999, not only was it built for a maximum of about 3,500 students a day, it was also incomplete. The current building, which included renovation of Esslinger Hall in 2000, was built as the first of three phases, the second being the student tennis center and the third is the current expansion.
“After we got the ball rolling, we broke ground in August and we are right on schedule and set to open January of 2015,” said Bryan Haunert, associate director of facilities. “As of right now, we don’t see any reason why that goal won’t be attained. People probably think they are just getting more of what we already have, but when they walk in the doors in 2015 they are going to be absolutely blown away.”
In 2009, the university assessed whether the student body would support the expansion of the recreation center. Soon after, a referendum was made where students could vote whether or not to move forward. The referendum failed in December 2011 but 57 percent of students agreed to the expansion in a second vote.
“We weren’t pushing a ‘yes’ vote, we just put the information out there,’” Haunert said. “Some of the general concern is, ‘Why am I paying now if I am not going to be here next year?’ And I always say you have what you have right now because two years ago students paid early fees. We can’t build a building unless we have money to do it.’”
Once the vote passed, plans were set for a $38 million dollar budget, including all equipment and amenities. The plans include new locker rooms, a three-court gymnasium, new studios dedicated to cycling, a CrossFit gym and double the amount of fitness and weight space. The current six-lane pool will also be expanded to 12 lanes and include a leisure pool and hot tub.
“It is such an exciting time for campus. There is growth going on and creative opportunity going on,” said Kevin Marbury, director of the physical education and recreation department. “We could be on a campus where all the facilities are 150 years old and there is all that wonderful tradition and the like, and that is fine for some but for today’s students, I think they want the newest the latest. If I’m recruiting students, this is where I would want to be.”
Despite the construction, Marbury explained that the building will hopefully be awarded highly for sustainability, the fifth of its kind behind schools such as the University of Arizona and Iowa State. He explained that the existing pool will be transformed into a cistern, an underground container used to capture rainwater. This water will be generated through the building and used to flush toilets.
“There are a lot of facilities that you stand in the middle of and you don’t necessarily know where you are,” Marbury said. “This one I think will speak and represent that this is the University of Oregon.”