The University Student Recreation Complex is about to undergo a makeover that will result in a lazy river in the shape of the LSU logo, the longest indoor running trail in any collegiate recreational facility and a CrossFit course complete with an indoor turfed ramp.
Despite the UREC’s ability to attract approximately 50 percent of the University’s student population, LSU’s 20-year-old student recreational facility is considered to be one of the worst in the Southeastern Conference, according to LSU Director of University Recreation Laurie Braden, who said Auburn is just behind LSU.
With the majority of planning for the UREC Expansion and Redesign finalized, LSU University Recreation is set to undergo the first phase of its two-part renovation in late April or early May of 2013. Phase two of the renovations has a target completion for the 2015-16 academic year. The whole project is estimated to take 36 to 48 months and be completed sometime during the 2015-16 academic year.
“Twenty years ago, the needs of students were very different than what they are today,” Braden said.
Phase one of the UREC Expansion and Redesign will expand the current field complex on River Road and Gourrier Avenue to the north and to the east and will include additional paved parking, Braden said.
While those fields are being expanded, an additional 363 parking spaces and nine new tennis courts will be added to the north side of the current Student Recreation Complex, affecting fields 1 and 2 of the current complex, Braden said.
Roger Husser, director of Planning, Design and Construction for Facility Services, said the whole expansion project is broken into two phases so students can see the impact of the project.
Although the construction plans for phase two are not finalized, the phase will focus on redesigning spaces within the existing UREC and will include the development of an approximate half-mile indoor running trail that will be inclined and sloped as it weaves throughout three levels of the renovated UREC.
“It will be the longest indoor running trail in a collegiate recreational facility,” Braden said.
The final part of phase two will be the outdoor leisure pool, which will include a lazy river in the shape of the LSU logo as well as two 25-yard pools.
The approximately $84.75 million UREC Expansion and Redesign will be funded by student fees, which Student Government passed following the November 2011 UREC Expansion and Growth Survey.
Vice Chancellor of Student Life and Enrollment Kurt Keppler said the fee is expected to go into place during the summer 2013 intersession.
Keppler said the student fee will increase incrementally over a three-year period, with an addition of $45 each year. The fee will have increased by $135 after three years, meaning students will pay a total of $200 for their UREC fees, up from the current $65 that students pay.
“Any student that pays a part of the fee increase and then doesn’t have an opportunity to use the facility because they graduated before it is brought online, will have the opportunity to use the facility for as many semesters as they paid for it,” Braden said.
Once the new fee is in place, students will basically pay around what is equal to a $36 monthly gym membership.
SG President Taylor Cox said students have been involved in every step of the planning and redesign of the UREC.
“What we saw is that our UREC is doing the best it possibly can to meet the needs of our students, but we believe it is so important to build a more up-to-date facility,” Cox said.
Keppler predicted that the changes will attract students and keep them at the University.
Cox said some students see a university’s recreational facility as a drawing point when choosing a school.
“I will put it up against any other collegiate recreational facility in the country when we are done because we will be the benchmark for the next level,” Braden said.
She said the expansion will also increase student employment opportunities with the renovated facility employing between 375 and 400 students annually.
“I will put it up against any other collegiate recreational facility in the country when we are done because we will be the benchmark for the next level.”
- Start in late April, early May
- Estimated completion in Fall 2013
- Expand current field complex on River Road and Gourrier Avenue and add parking
- Add 4 lighted softball fields and 4 lighted multi purpose fields. Currently there are 3 multi-purpose fields.
- Add 363 parking spaces and 9 new tennis courts at current Student Recreation Complex, impacting fields 1 and 2 of current complex
- Update current indoor swimming pool
- Gut and redesign locker rooms
- Move administration offices to the front of the facility
- Add to current facility:
- Approximately half-mile indoor running trail
- turfed CrossFit training slope
- 38 ft climbing wall.
- Outdoor pool area with LSU logo shaped lazy river
- Two 25-yard outdoor pools
- Basketball courts will increase from 4 to 10, including 2 multi-purpose flooring courts
- Completion targeted for 2015-2016 academic year
