Student Recreational & Wellness Center

Purpose:  To provide space for non-academic recreation opportunities, Intramural Sports

Estimated Cost:  $18 million

Likely Location: Site of former Delta Hall, west of Arkansas Hall

Square Footage:  Approximately 65,000 - 70,000

Estimated Schedule for Construction:

• May 2007  Architectural Firms and General Contractor Selected
• June 2007 - 2008  Design Phase and Construction Documents
• April 4, 2008  Construction Begins
• November 2009  Facility Opens

Types of Recreation Spaces Planned for New Facility

• Multipurpose Gymnasium for Basketball and Volleyball
• Indoor Walking and Running Track
• Free Weight Training and Cardiovascular Fitness Rooms
• Dance Studios
• Multipurpose Activity Court
• Meeting Rooms for Wellness Classes

Why the Facility Is Being Constructed

• Fitness and health continue to be a major concern for college students, faculty, and staff.
• Our current facility, the Health, Physical Education and Sports Sciences (HPESS) complex, is 30+ years old and was originally built for the sole purpose of academic use which limits the time available for recreational use.
• The HPESS fitness facilities are very limited.  The Fitness Club, located in the Student Union, is not large enough for ASU’s student population.
• An increase in the Student Union fee will fund the construction and operational costs for a new student recreation center, and the increased fee would allow Arkansas State University to remain financially competitive among competitor colleges.

Recruitment

• A study conducted by Ohio State University reported that recreation facilities ranked second only to academics in regards to why a student selected the university.
• A study conducted at Clemson University concluded that more than one third of the students stated their decision to attend the university was based on their positive perceptions of recreation facilities.

Retention

• Involvement in co-curricular activities, such as intramural sports, correlates with higher satisfaction of college life and academic success.
• Participation in campus recreation programs help students develop a social life, develop friendships, and define the university as a community which enhances student retention rates.