The completion of the University Recreation Expansion and Redesign Project was finalized during the UREC’s Grand Opening on Sept. 8. The event began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by free food and prizes, games, activities, and music from DJ CMIX.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony commenced the celebration of the University’s newly-renovated UREC, a project that had been underway for about 5 years, said Executive Director of University Recreation Laurie Braden.

Renovations to the UREC include an LSU-shaped lazy river, the longest indoor running trail in any collegiate recreational facility and a CrossFit course, complete with an indoor turfed ramp. Additionally, the project included an increase in parking spaces and in the number of tennis courts available.

The approximately $84.75 million UREC Expansion and Redesign was funded by student fees, which Student Government passed following the November 2011 UREC Expansion and Growth Survey.

Braden said she proudly had the opportunity to be a part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“Five years of work on this project, and today we celebrate with our students and campus community,” she said. “I am so proud of our professional and student staff. Every day I am grateful for the direction and calling my life has taken. Some may call it a job, but I call it amazing.”

During the Grand Opening event, students and other UREC members had the opportunity to use the new facilities and enjoy complimentary food and t-shirts.

“I came last year when we were in the old UREC and that was fine,” said mass communication sophomore Mikha Romero. “But then I started coming to this one when it opened and I really love coming here at least 3 times a week. The facility is so nice and I think that more people should try to use it because we pay for it.”

Kinesiology freshman Jaci Sander said she enjoyed getting the free t-shirts and felt it was the best part.

One of the many activities students participated in at the Grand Opening was the Wall Crate Stacking Challenge.

French and English sophomore Grace Galeziewski was able to stack 13 crates. 

“It was scary because you can feel the crates shaking under you the whole time and you know that you can fall at any minute,” Galeziewski said. “I guess the tendency is just to want to freeze, but you just have to put one foot in front of the other and and keep stacking the crates.”

Braden said she is thankful for the community cooperation during the UREC Expansion and Redesign project.

“We’re grateful for students and the campus community for living through construction with us. It wasn’t easy,” Braden said. “There were times when it was inconvenient, but we have always engaged students in the dialogue about this process and they’ve been part of the decision-making fabric since the beginning. So I’m grateful to the campus community and I thank the campus community and I thank the students because it’s truly a shared project. We get to all contribute to LSU’s success.”

Braden said the University can expect a UREC addition in 2018.

“In 2018, when the Nicholson Gateway Project opens and we have the 1,200 residence halls over there, we will have an 8,500 square foot fitness facility in the Nicholson Project,” she said. “So students living on that northwest corner of campus will have a fitness space.”

*Editor’s Note: The previous version incorrectly stated Grace Galeziewski’s name on second reference. The story has been updated to correctly state her name. The Daily Reveille regrets this error.