New Campus Recreation & Wellness Center opens to rave reviews
University of Iowa students have a new place to get fit and have fun thanks to the newly opened Campus Recreation and Wellness Center (CRWC). (See the video and photo gallery below!)
The $70 million, 215,000-square-foot center features a 52.5-foot climbing wall, a competition pool with spectator seating for up to 2,000, a high dive pool, two full-size basketball courts and a multi-activity court, a 1/9-mile indoor track, a leisure pool with a “lazy river” feature and a giant video board for movie screenings, three activity rooms, and much more.
The fitness area in the new building spans more than 20,000 square feet over three floors, with machines featuring embedded televisions and iPod hook-ups. The CRWC also has steam and sauna rooms, weights, locker rooms, lounge areas, and a café featuring smoothies and other light refreshments.
Planning the CRWC began a decade ago and involved visiting facilities across the country, conducting focus groups, and hiring a consulting firm.
“Student feedback was instrumental from the start,” says Recreational Services director Harry Ostrander. The center also will serve as the new home of the men’s and women’s varsity athletic swimming and diving teams. Iowa will host several conference and national meets at the new pool.
Evidence suggests that students who use campus recreational facilities are more likely to have higher grade-point averages and stay in school, notes Tom Rocklin, interim vice president for student services.
“Our mission is student success, and student health is part of that,” he says. “It’s important to have recreational opportunities and also to develop teamwork and leadership opportunities in recreation. This new facility will offer fun, alcohol-free activities and help our students grow.”
Membership is free for University of Iowa students.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGoNukQDpm0[/youtube]