The Department of Recreational Sports is undergoing renovations and possible additions to its current facilities and also is discussing plans to add a second Rec Center on the west side of campus in accordance with the Master Plan.
Michael Giles, the Rec Center associate director of operations, said the long-term goal is to increase the square footage of the center. With a national average of 10 to 12 square feet per student, LSU is lacking with only four to five square feet.
“We have the least square feet in the SEC,” said Giles. “There is a true need for additional Rec space.”
The Rec sees anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 students each day, not including faculty, staff, alumni and guests. To accommodate such a large influx of members, the Rec is putting the students’ $15 fee increase from last fall to use.
Some current projects include renovations to the upstairs and downstairs weight rooms, a new powerlifting room and remodeling projects such as a new lounge area.
Renovations to the upstairs area include new equipment for the cardiovascular section as well as new machines for the weight room, all purchased last fall.
The new weight room replaces one previously located downstairs, which typically was used by female members. However, with a larger selection of machines, the Rec hopes to dispel the misconception of gender-specific rooms.
“We want to create the environment that you don’t feel that need for separation,” Giles said.
In addition, a new $60,000 wood floor in the aerobics room has replaced the previous rubber one. The Rec also has installed a Boflex Versatrainer for people with disabilities to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The progress downstairs is coming along, with a larger weight room and new sitting area in the works. The L-shaped free-weight room downstairs will expand to about 2,000 square feet. The athletic training room has been eliminated to accommodate this enlargement.
For weight-lifting enthusiasts, there soon will be a separate room for weight lifting, taking over a racquetball court. This area will have designated times for the LSU weight-lifting team to practice, which currently practices off campus.
Students soon will be able to stay and visit with friends after working out, with the addition of a new lounge area. The concrete benches have been removed and will be replaced with a carpeted area and more comfortable seating.
Perhaps the largest current development is the $2.4 million field project in progress near Gourrier Road and River Road. The project will include three multipurpose fields to serve intramural and LSU teams as well as many other organizations. The project is scheduled for completion this fall.
Although renovations will help with the lack of space and machines available for students, they still may not be enough to meet the desired square footage on a national level.
Giles said there are two possibilities for expansion plans. The first is adding on to the existing facility; the other is building a second Rec Center.
With the expansion of Residential Life already underway and the Master Plan moving athletics farther to the west side of campus, there is a need for another center, Giles said. These ideas are in the discussion phase.
“We’re looking for possibilities for a Rec Center on the west side of campus. The facility is tremendously undersized,” said Giles.”It will take a lot of pressure off this facility.”
As far as current renovations to the Rec, there will be group meetings the first week of school for students to meet with the architects.
“We want to make the existing Rec Center more friendly and accessible. We have the space to expand,” said Giles.
Elaine Purdy, Rec Center director, said a meeting will be held at the Rec Center in Classroom 107 Jan. 22 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The open meeting aims to gather students’ input to aid in final decision making for any further renovations.
“These are things we will do to get a feel for what the students want,” Purdy said. “The Rec Center is the students’ and it should reflect their needs and wants.”