The Wooster campus will soon receive a new landmark with the completion of the Student Recreation Center in 2012. The center, which is the first phase of a much larger plan to construct a new Campus Center, will be a welcome addition to the College’s aging athletic facilities.
“For this to happen is just awesome,” said Dennis Rice, head coach of men’s and women’s cross country and track and field.† “This is going to be a great opportunity, obviously not only for student athletes, but also for the whole campus community to have a place to be able to go to in the winter time and when the weather is dismal.”
The plan for the new Student Recreation Center arose from President Cornwell’s vision to increase the quality of Wooster’s† campus facilities in order to remain competitive among other small private liberal arts institutions.† The 40- year-old Armington Physical Education Center, which the majority houses two gymnasiums and a pool, has been in need of a renovation, as well as expanded indoor athletic facilities.† The Student Recreation Center, which will extend from the back of the Armington PEC to the side of the football field, aims to relieve the College of these problems.
“In recent years, the College has invested heavily in its academic facilities and student residence halls, and now it’s time to make that same kind of investment in facilities for athletics and recreation, which will be used by, and benefit, the entire campus community,” said John Hopkins, Associate Vice President for College Relations and Marketing.
The Student Recreation Center will include a field house, complete with four intramural courts for basketball, tennis, and volleyball, a NCAA regulation 200-meter running track and setup for additional track and field events, such as long jump and pole vault.† The Center will also include a state-of-the-art fitness center, new locker rooms and new athletic department offices and meeting rooms.
“As a member of the cross country and track teams, the creation of an indoor track will finally place us at the same training level as rival conference schools, stop our 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. practices at the Wooster High School, and allow us to reach our full potential as Wooster runners,” said Casey Green ’12.
A unique feature of the Student Recreation Center is that it will utilize an assortment of energy efficient and sustainable structural practices, making it Wooster’s first “green” building.† Project planners are also seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver Certification, the third highest level of building sustainability from the U.S. Green Building Council.† The disposal of old materials from the Armington PEC has also been developed with environmental sustainability in mind.† All of the glass, aluminum, steel and concrete from the renovations of the old Center will be recycled.
“I am elated about the new recreation center,” said Keith Beckett, director of athletics.† “It is a well planned project that will provide the campus community with expanded and enhanced facilities for a multiplicity of activity that falls under the canopy of physical education, athletics and recreation.”
Construction for the project has already begun, with the demolition of the office wing of the Armington PEC making way for the connection to the Student Recreation Center.† At the beginning of May, water, sewer and utility lines will set the foundation for the center’s structural assembly, which will begin in August and continue through the following 16 months.† The entire project is slated to be completed by January 2012 and will cost an estimated $30 million.† Wooster trustees have already committed $22 million to the project so far.† The center’s expenses will not only come from the construction of the structure itself, but from the materials and equipment used to furnish the Center as well.
“It’s going to look pretty cool,” said Gus Fuguitt ’13, a member of the track and field team.† “Hopefully we can hold a track meet there that students can attend.† Overall, I think it’s a long needed addition to the school that everyone can appreciate.”