Jacob Fuhrer |
Just nine months after breaking ground, the Beauchamp Recreation and Wellness Center has gone from an empty lot to a towering 72,000 square foot structure. The building is on the west end of campus and will replace the outdated Howard Hall.
While leading a hardhat tour of the new structure, Paul Luty, director of facilities planning and construction, said the project has been smooth sailing for him and his team. Over winter break, workers installed windows across the front of the building that will allow for a panoramic view of campus.
During the tour, crews worked to add electrical gear and ventilation systems in the numerous exercise studios, locker rooms and training facilities.
The new Recreation Center is next to multiple campus residence halls, creating a unique challenge for nondisruptive construction work. If it seems like parts of the building appear almost overnight, it’s likely they did.
Luty said he and the construction crews strategically plan work around students’ schedules.
For instance, workers hooked up the building to the city’s main water line on North Strong Street over winter break.
“Since this work would have been impactful to the student and vehicle traffic flow, it was best performed during the holiday break," Brett McCoy, project manager for Skanska USA, said in an email.
The 23 million-dollar building will include a slew of new features for students, including a rock wall, three gymnasiums and a spin studio.
Students and administrators see the Recreation Center as a long-overdue addition to the campus.
John Larson, a junior mechanical engineering major, visits Howard Hall daily and is thrilled to soon ditch what he called an “old relic” in favor of the more modern building with more than one basketball court.
In addition to the amenities offered, others are excited about the structural improvements.
Noah Webster, a bike mechanic in Howard Hall, said he worries about bikes falling from the ceiling due to the intense vibrations from students running across the gym directly above him.
Jim Ravelli, vice president for University Operations, is also pleased with the progress.
“[The building] has been sorely needed on this campus for a very long time,” Ravelli said. “We’re thrilled to finally see this come to fruition.”
Construction will wrap up in June, with a grand opening scheduled for August.
Jacob Fuhrer is a reporter for The Beacon. He can be reached at fuhrer17@up.edu
