Irving Gym will undergo the first phase of a $39 million renovation, expansion and reshaping project later this semester.
Thomas Morrison, associate vice president for human resources and state relations, said the new facility would be called the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
In addition to Irving Gym, Human Performance Lab, Worthen Arena, Field and Sports Building and a commuter parking lot will all undergo construction, Morrison said.
Gym II, or the main floor of Irving Gym, and the dance studios will remain intact, he said.
Morrison said part of the complex would fill Irving Gym's footprint and incorporate multiple expansions.
The R3 phase of the project, named for the commuter parking lot between Irving and Field and Sports, will be completed Spring 2009, Morrison said, while remaining construction would be ready for Fall 2010.
Dan Byrnes, director of sports facilities and recreation services, said student input influenced the center's design and components.
"Students' number one request was for more fitness space," Byrnes said.
The center will contain three times the area of Irving's current fitness room, Morrison said, with separate spaces for free weights and cardio equipment.
Byrnes said students also expressed interest in a service to coordinate outdoor activities as well as provide information.
Ball State University has been developing an Office of Outdoor Pursuits for the last 15 years, Byrnes said, which is the final goal of a president's task force on the improvement of recreational facilities on campus.
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