Construction is still on schedule for the new student recreation center, according to Adam Sardinha, assistant marketing director of Campus Recreation, and a grand opening for the recreation center is being planned for spring 2013.
The building was designed to cater to a wide variety of interests, and Sardinha said he is looking forward to seeing student reactions.
"We wanted to excite the students and make sure we're providing them the best amenities possible, so we have a 50-foot rock climbing wall that we're very proud of," Sardinha said. "We also have a tiger paw spa that will seat about 45 students."
The number of fitness classes will increase from 100 per week to about 150, and a special tower has been designed to hold these types of group exercises.
"Each floor is going to have a dedicated space for each type of training," Sardinha said. "The very top of the facility will be a mind/body studio, so yoga classes and pilates classes. It will give you a pretty nice view of the surrounding area."
The current student activities center will be completely replaced by the recreation center, said Harper, though no plans have been made for the old building's future use.
"The Student Activities Center is a solid building and will not be torn down," said Scott Harper, associate director of Campus Recreation. "The Student Activities Center will eventually serve Auburn University in ways other than a recreation building."
Harper said he is grateful for the patience being shown by Auburn students as construction continues.
"With all the construction and detours, students have continuously shown up in large numbers to use the Student Activities Center with little to no complaints," Harper said.
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