Texas University Starts Work on New Recreation Center

Texas A&M University-San Antonio (A&M-SA) recently announced that construction has begun on a new Student Recreation Center, according to a university news release. The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved the project in November 2022, and completion is scheduled for spring 2024. The space will measure in at 22,322 square feet.

The Student Recreation Center will include three major spaces: a gym, a weight room, and a set of locker rooms. The gym will feature a regulation-size basketball court and two 84-foot recreational basketball courts overlaid as cross courts, the news release reports. The fitness and weight room will measure in at about 3,400 square feet and 1.5 stories high, and will stand adjacent to the gymnasium.

“Our recreation center will be designed to enhance the student experience, improve recruitment, retention and magnify the brand of the university in an increasingly competitive marketplace,” said Darnell Smith, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports. “As our students pursue their lofty academic goals, we seek to provide an equal opportunity for them to pursue their health and wellness goals with the new facility.”

The Student Recreation Center will serve the campus at large and play home to university programs including strength and conditioning, ROTC drills and exercises, kinesiology classes, convocations, staff council meetings, campus town halls, and more, the news release reports. The university will also host camps, events, and clinics for the larger San Antonio community, according to the press release.

“The recreation center is the culmination of several years of institutional effort to strengthen student life and recreation on campus. It is arguably the most student-driven and student-led construction project in the university’s history,” said Student Government Association President Jacob Goldstein. “An audacious future for recreational and athletic offerings for students is just around the corner.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • UNH Marks Construction Milestone on Oceanic Exploration Facility

    The University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., recently celebrated a major construction milestone with a beam-signing ceremony for the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping, according to a news release. The facility’s ultimate goal is to support research, training and technical assistance in ocean mapping.

  • Embry-Riddle Completes Construction on Research, Lab Facility

    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Fla., recently announced the end of construction on a new research and lab facility on campus. The Center for Aerospace Engineering II (CAT II) will support aerospace research and technology development and broke ground last summer.

  • UT-San Antonio Begins Residence Hall Renovations

    The University of Texas at San Antonio recently began a $6-million renovation project to one of its residence halls, according to a news release. Originally completed in 1986, Chisolm Hall measures in at 120,860 square feet and is the oldest and largest residence hall on campus.

  • UCF Modernizes College of Hospitality Management

    The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., recently completed a major renovation effort for the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, according to a news release. The project modernized 77,600 square feet worth of academic classrooms, teaching labs, and collaborative spaces to support both students and faculty.