The Daily Collegian

Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: News

Media Credit: P.J. Stanley

In addition to construction totaling over $40 million dollars this summer, construction and improvements at the Universtiy of Massachusetts continue this semester on the new Recreation Center

The center, which is located between Hick's Way and Commonwealth Avenue was designed by Sasaki Associates of Boston. The cost of the center will total $50 million, according to Jim Hunt, the communications manager for Facilities and Campus Planning.

"It will have weight and fitness areas in two floors of the building, a three court gym that is dividable, and multi-purpose rooms for classes," said Hunt. "There will even be a juice bar and a lounge area, which will be nice."

The building will also contain associated locker and toilet facilities, as well as house administration offices, and space for other sports and recreational clubs.

Spanning 120,000 square feet and three floors, the Recreation Center not only promises up-to-date technology, but will also be an anesthetically pleasing addition to campus.

"It will integrate a part of campus that was previously occupied primarily by older buildings and we will be doing a lot of landscaping to the area," said Hunt. "Actually, if you go up there, you will notice that there are already improvements on Hicks Way. The pedestrian walkways have been straightened out and they have been doing some work on the area."

Construction began in fall 2007, but was halted due to disputes over a historic barn occupying the land planned for the center. However, construction resumed in spring of 2008 and will continue through the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

According to Hunt, the target date for the completion of the building is by the end of this fall with the facility being ready for use by the spring semester. However, he estimates that completion will probably be around the close of the spring semester with occupancy beginning next fall.

Beyond expanding recreational opportunities for students at UMass, the location of the building was selected purposefully in an effort to unite the library and campus center areas with the opposite side of campus and the Mullins Center.

"This is very good news for the University and the quality of life on campus," he said. "Of course, the primary mission of the University is academic buildings, but a central recreation facility was lacking. It is a facility that will have state-of-the-art equipment and will really be pretty nice."

Lisa DeBenedictis can be reached at ldebened@student.umass.edu.

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