University of Arkansas to Renovate Athletics Facility

The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., recently announced a 15-month renovation project for its HPER (Health, Physical Education, and Recreation) Building on campus, according to a university news release. The renovations will feature infrastructure and architectural updates, as well as an additional 13,000 square feet of fitness center space. The project will cost an estimated $24 million coming from general obligation bonds supported by facilities fees.

Updates will include new turf-functional training areas, updated fitness equipment, new multi-purpose spaces, and modernized locker rooms, the news release reports. Two students served on the renovation planning committee during the process to provide input and feedback on behalf of the university community.

"This will be an impactful improvement for our students and the university community,” said Kristin DeAngelo, interim executive director of University Recreation. “University Recreation is committed to the health and wellness of our campus, and it shows in this renovation. We are very thankful to the students who led the efforts to fund this project and are now able to see it come to fruition. As we embark upon these upgrades, we continue to focus on the ability to better serve the student body at the University of Arkansas.”

The university partnered with SmithGroup & Hufft for the project’s design, C.R. Crawford for construction, and UARK Facilities Management for construction services. The renovated facility is scheduled to open in fall 2025, according to the university website.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Northeastern University Breaks Ground on New Housing Community

    Northeastern University recently announced the groundbreaking of a new student housing community on its campus in Boston, Mass., according to a news release. The university is partnering with American Campus Communities (ACC) for development of the project, which will have the capacity for 1,200 students and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • Utah Valley University Opens New Engineering Building

    Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, recently held a grand-opening ceremony for the new Scott M. Smith Engineering Building, according to a news release. The facility is one of the largest engineering buildings in the state at almost 200,000 square feet, and it plays home to the university’s Smith College of Engineering and Technology (SCET).

  • University of Oklahoma Announces New Campus Master Plan

    The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., recently announced that it will soon launch a new, comprehensive Campus Master Plan to guide the campus’ physical development during the next decade, according to a news release.

  • 144-Year-Old High-School Campus Debuts New Academic Facility

    San Diego High School (SDHS) in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new student services and classroom building; the project is part of a larger SDHS Whole Site Modernization project that began in 2022.