Student rec center groundbreaking:
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Student Recreation and Wellness Center is set for 11:30 a.m on March 19. The project is scheduled to begin construction in April and be completed by August 2015.
“It will be a focal point, like the TSC and the library, for student life,” said James Morales, vice president for Student Services .
Although the groundbreaking ceremony itself is planned to be small, Campus Recreation will hold an open house after the event in the George Nelson Fieldhouse, Morales said. The event is open to the public and will feature the different services available through
Campus Recreation.
“I am excited about the fact that it will enhance the vibrancy of student life, not just for the fitness fanatics,” Morales said.
The Student Recreation and Wellness Center will serve as an important focal point of student activity. According to Jill Jones, principal architect for the project, the interior was designed around utility.
“We wanted to make sure it responds to the needs and wants of the students,” Jones said.
The exterior of the building would then follow a canyon concept, Jones said. This feature is inspired by both the close proximity of Logan Canyon and the city of Logan itself.
There are two architectural firms involved in the design of the new center. One of those firms, AGC Architect, is based in Salt lake City. AGC has been involved in multiple projects on campus over the last several years. The second firm is 360 Architects, based in Kansas City, specializing in recreation centers.
Construction for the Student Recreation and Wellness Center will be handled by Layton Construction.
According to Morales, the project is still on budget. However, this came at the cost of removing some aspects of the initial plans from the first phase of construction.
He said the changes were made when it came time to compare the wish list created by the student body and staff to the reality of the financial limits imposed by the budget.
“We went back to the design and improved it. This process is true for any design project,” Morales said.
One such aspect removed to support the budget was the climbing wall. Morales indicated if enough savings were made during the construction process, the climbing wall would be added during the final stages. A donor could also step forward during construction and provide the funds to install the wall.
Other aspects of the project removed from the plans for the initial phase have been placed into the second phase. When more funds are made available after the completion of the first phase, the plans in the second phase will be incorporated into the recreation center.
Part of the funds for the project are being paid for in student fees. Students are paying $25 per semester for the installation of the Legacy Fields. Beginning Fall 2015, that amount will
be increased to a total of $75 a semester. Both fees were voted on and approved by the student body during the 2012 voting session.
For anyone interested in learning more about the project, it is encouraged to use the project’s website: www.usu.edu/aggiereccenter.
-david.berg@aggiemail.usu.edu