Board of Regents OKs new student recreation center for Kennesaw State
Construction on 176,000-square-foot facility to begin in early 2013
KENNESAW, Ga. (Oct. 10…
Georgia
(Oct 10, 2012) —
Construction on 176,000-square-foot facility to begin in early 2013
KENNESAW, Ga. (Oct. 10, 2012) — The Board of Regents of The University System of Georgia has approved construction
of a new student recreation center for Kennesaw State University. Construction on
the $38.7 million facility will begin early next year.
The new 176,000-square-foot Student Recreation and Activities Center will be financed
by Kennesaw State student fees. The facility will more than triple the size of the
existing 55,000-square-foot student recreational center built in 1967. The project
will play an important role in enhancing campus life at Kennesaw State by supporting
recruitment and retention efforts and contributing to student success. The expanded
building will encompass the current recreation and activities facility, which will
undergo extensive renovations.
“Kennesaw State students will find the new Student Recreation and Activities Center
a superb facility for exercise and leisure activities,” said Kennesaw State President
Daniel S. Papp. “This center is designed for fitness and fun, so it will be a popular
‘go-to’ destination for our more than 24,000 students.”
Design plans call for an indoor competition swimming pool and an outdoor leisure swimming
pool. There will be an outdoor basketball court and four indoor ones, along with a
multi-activity court large enough to play soccer. The Student Recreation and Activities
Center also will have eight tennis courts, a weight and fitness area, a rock climbing
wall, indoor track, and expanded wellness center and other amenities – such as sand
volleyball and racquetball courts.
“The new recreation center will have a positive impact for the University and will
enhance student engagement,” said Jerome Ratchford, vice president for student success.
“Today’s students judge the quality of the recreational and sport facilities on their
list of expectations for deciding to attend a university. This state-of-art facility
will provide a variety of exciting and dynamic recreation opportunities for our students.”
The new facility also will include sustainable design features, such as natural light
throughout the building and adjustable lighting to accommodate different hours of
the day and specific activity needs. Reduced power consumption will be achieved with
computer-controlled energy management systems that provide more air movement through
the recreation spaces to ensure comfortable use in lieu of more cooled air. It is
anticipated the building will receive LEED Silver certification following its completion
in fall 2014.
In student surveys conducted by Kennesaw State’s Department of Sports & Recreation
in 2009 and 2010, the University’s students identified programs and services they
would like to see in a new recreation facility. Top priorities included cardiovascular
equipment, indoor jogging and walking, weight machines, free weights, group fitness,
recreational swimming, lap swimming and mind-body instructional classes.
Hughes Group Architects provided the concept design; Cooper Carry is the architect
of record. Gleeds USA will be the program manager and Hardin Construction Co. will
be the general contractor.
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Kennesaw State University is the third-largest university in Georgia, offering more
than 90 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including doctorates in education, business
and nursing, and a Ph.D. in international conflict management. A member of the 35-unit
University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State is a comprehensive, residential institution
with a growing population of 24,100 students from more than 130 countries.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
