The UREC is getting in shape.
To tone its muscles, the facility is adding numerous sets to its workout plan, and today the UREC released its final three renderings.
Over the past three years, UREC faculty members and project designers have been working closely with Student Government leaders and UREC regulars to conduct polls and surveys geared toward understanding what the student body wants from its recreation facility.
The three remaining renderings released today feature a new mind and body studio, the new face of the UREC and a bird’s eye view of the facility without the roof.
While the anticipation is building for the project to finish, UREC coordinator of marketing Kendra Bayne posted sneak peaks of the future UREC via social media over the past three weeks.
“The one with the roof peeled off is really cool,” Bayne said.
From the rooftop rendering, students will be able to see every aspect of the 270,000 square-foot facility, including the indoor jogging trail, the 38 feet climbing wall, the LSU leisure pool, the basketball and tennis courts and office space.
The 3,268 square-foot mind and body studio will boast wall-to-wall glass windows that can be opened or closed and overlook the LSU Leisure Pool and lounge area. The studio also has an outdoor balcony that can be used for various types of fitness activities and special functions, Bayne said.
Associate director of project management and facility services Brad Wilson believes these renderings of the facility will show students that the project design team and UREC staff have been listening to student voices.
Wilson said the biggest challenge in deciding what the UREC expansion would include was finding a medium between the stockholders’ input and desires for the project, while also ensures the needs and wants of students would be met.
Wilson said the facility will have two means of access on both the west and east sides of the building, which will help facilitate students who are renting bikes or canoes from the outdoor recreation section.
The UREC will also expand its current cardio and weight fitness area to a three-floor, 40,632 square-foot space. The area will include an integrated cardio and weight area, functional training space, synthetic turf floor, an 80 feet, 11 degree inclined ramp and equipment including sleds, kettlebells, medicine balls, tires, ropes and logs.
The space will also boast a power-lifting room with equipment such as six power rack and bench stations and two Olympic lifting platforms.
Another addition to the UREC will be the fitness assessment center. This 2,060 square-foot space will offer services including cardiovascular testing, movement analysis, flexibility analysis, speed and agility testing and body composition testing.
While these expansions and renovations will greatly benefit students, they don’t come cheap.
LSU director of University Recreation Laurie Braden said full-time students will continue to see a fee increase in order to fund the new UREC.
This year is year one of a three- year graduating fee; currently, students are paying $110 per fall and spring semester. Next year students can expect to pay $155 per semester, and in the third year, $200 per semester, Braden said.
Braden said the fee increase will be permanent.
In addition, students will see that the fitness equipment in the facility will increase by three times the current amount in some cases. For example, the cardio equipment currently consists of 58 items, but by the end of the project there will be more than 150 equipment pieces, curbing equipment shortages and wait time for students.
Wilson also said the construction phases will be a process of give and take for the students and the UREC.
“We are going to try as hard as possible to not have to close the facility, but there will be times when we will lose certain parts of the building,” Wilson said. “But when one part is closed down due to construction, another part will be done and open.”
Wilson said although the expansion process is tedious and arduous for him and the design team, it is definitely worthwhile.
“There have been lots of mountaintop moments along the way,” Wilson said. “Each day we get one step closer, whether it be planning or designing, each one of those little milestones will eventually get us to cutting the ribbon.”
Construction on phase three is set to commence in late April or May.
To get more details about the expansion process, go to
www.lsu.edu/urec/expansion.
149,000 sq. ft addition to current 121,000 sq. ft. UREC facility, totaling 270,000 sq. ft.
Cardio and weight fitness area expanded to 40,632 sq. ft.
Cardio equipment will increase from 58 to 150+
3,268 sq. ft. Mind and body Studio
A new 3,282 sq. ft. boxing studio will be added
2,060 sq. ft. space will offer services including cardiovascular testing, movement analysis, flexibility analysis, speed and agility testing and body composition testing.
Indoor jogging trail will include a 570 ft. inclined trail portion with 3 degree slope between levels enabling joggers to run up, down and between floors.