Construction of the new Recreation and Wellness Center on campus has begun, but will not be completed until May 2013.
"The Recreation and Wellness Center consists of over 240,000 square feet of space for Auburn students, faculty and staff and addresses not only physical, but environmental and community health," said Suzanne Webster, project manager for construction and design.
The recreation center will boast many new areas of exercise that are new to Auburn's campus. A few include a rock wall, yoga and dance studios, a leisure pool and spa, golf simulator and racquetball courts.
Recreation will go beyond the walls of the building, as canoes and kayaks and other outdoor equipment will be available for rental. They will be available for daily, weekly and weekend rates that are to be determined.
"We will strive to have a sufficient amount of equipment of all types to meet the needs of Auburn's students, staff and faculty," said Scott Harper, associate director of campus recreation.
Among the newest installments is the state-of-the-art track that will be elevated within the building. The 1,760 feet of track has been nicknamed the "Corkscrew" due to its odd and distinct shape.
Gregory Parsons, university architect, emphasized the importance of the new facility being open and transparent instead of a long corridor with many rooms.
"A lot of glass where people using the facility can see the outside and the view from the outside to the inside will invite students to be a part of the activity," Parsons said.
The recreation center will be segmented into neighborhoods of exercise. Yoga and dance will be kept away from louder exercise areas by being placed in the Fitness tower, while there will be a large gym with six courts to contain basketball.
A new and necessary feature that the recreation center will have to offer is locker rooms and places to shower. Students and professors want an area to freshen up after exercising and the current activities center does not include that.
The design process for the recreation center lasted two years, from the initial design and conception until the bidding was complete and the construction contract was awarded.
"It is a one of a kind facility that should serve the student population well for many years to come," Parsons said. "Auburn will be at the top as far as having one of the best recreation centers in the country."
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