Renovations to the Student Recreation and Wellness Facility are almost done, meaning students can finally claim the space for recreational purposes.
Jason Adamowicz, associate director of Recreation Services, said he's looking forward to being able to provide the services students wanted — being able to use equipment and facilities anytime during the day — rather than accommodating to the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics schedule.
Adamowicz shares an office with two other people in the Field Sports Building in a space small enough to be a storage closet, and he's looking forward to a new office space as a result of the changes.
"The concept wasn't really for us," he said. "What we found from our discussion with students was it's hard to find us."
Adamowicz's role in transforming the space included surveying students, speaking with various student government groups and talking with students who use the Field Sports Building.
Until now, Recreational Services has co-existed with the Athletics Department on what Adamowicz calls a "shared facility concept."
"The issue was we had all this space, but the priority wasn't for students," he said.
There are three major tenets in the complex: athletics, physical education and recreation. The issue, Adamowicz said, was the disproportionate use of the space.
"The general concept of this construction project is to provide student recreational needs first," he said. "So instead of being that third tier on the priority, they move up to number one."
Adamowicz said that according to a survey, 53 percent of students use the Recreation Facility at least once a week.
Hours of operation are sporadic throughout the day to accommodate for athletic practices and physical education courses.
For the 33 sports clubs on campus, they take what they can get. The Ultimate Frisbee team, for example, practices on Sundays and Wednesdays from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Joseph Kalule, a senior on the team, said having practice so late keeps him wired afterwards and then tired the next day during classes.
Club Vice President Hans Rasmussen said he's looking forward to more accessibility at the new turf field, which is made of the same artificial grass as Scheumann Stadium.
"If for nothing else, it'll keep us from getting injured," he said, speaking of his teammates who get shin splints from practicing on the hard surface at the Field Sports Building.
Student Government Association adviser Lynda Wiley said SGA became involved in the initial discussion to create a recreational facility in 2006. SGA supported expansion and construction to the Recreation Facility and the student allocated fees.
The $90 Student Recreation and Wellness Facility fee, which was put into effect this school year, will be used to offset the construction costs. Adamowicz estimated a $120 fee next school year.
"It was an affirmation of the planning process that had already begun and had already utilized a lot of ideas the students had," Wiley said.
Greg Graham, interim director of Facilities Planning, said he'd be surprised if students didn't take full advantage of the new space.
"Compared to other [Mid-American Conference] schools, it will bring us up to par," he said. "But I think it pulls us ahead of other Indiana schools."
He said the changes won't take away from the space the Athletics Department had, but now students can use the space while athletics is using it.
Graham said this is one of the most costly projects his department has undertaken on campus. In 2006, Tom Kinghorn, vice president of Business Affairs at the time, estimated it would cost $23 million, but the most recent figure is $39 million.
Adamowicz said the space is scheduled to open August 18 in time for Welcome Week.
"You won't really be able to find a facility of this magnitude at a similar-size college," he said. "We're going to be very competitive, I think, in terms of facilities."
Adamowicz said the one change students overwhelmingly wanted was a new fitness space. He said one of the best ways to get feedback was through a comment board online, and he remembers one comment that stood out to him.
"We were just getting ready to be approved for the changes and we got one saying, ‘Four treadmills for 18,000 students? Duh.' It was a very honest comment, but it was true."
Before construction began, the fitness room was 5,000 square feet. During construction it was moved to a lower level and the fitness space doubled in size. The new fitness area will be designed on three separate levels: strength training on the first tier, cardio training on the second tier and a quiet space for individual workouts and running on the top floor. The third level also looks out over the other two areas, and it has a large window to let in sunlight.
Junior Chelsea Hall, who works as a monitor at the fitness area and teaches fitness classes, said the busiest time for the fitness area is from 4 to 8:30 p.m.
"I think the three-story gym will be really cool, having all the areas separate so people can work with their forte and what they want to do," she said.
Graham said the new model is designed as a much more open workout space.
Adamowicz said the goal is to have opportunities for drop-in recreation from the time the building opens at 5 a.m. until it closes at 1 a.m.
"At different times of the day, and different times of the week, the building takes on different lives," Adamowicz said. "Later on at night, our student organizations start coming in, and they want multipurpose space to practice."
Adding a dining component is another way for Ball State to stay up to date with its recreation facility.
Jon Lewis, director of Campus Dining Services, said it's common to have some kind of food delivery in new wellness and recreation facilities.
"There's a major disconnect nationally," he said. "Typically what one might consider healthy food choices does not sell in a recreation center."
Dining Services decided Quiznos would be appropriate, or what Lewis calls a "Quiznos Plus," with an abbreviated menu and grab-and-go snack items.
A contract was made official Thursday, and Ball State now has its own Quiznos franchise, Lewis said.
Another major addition is the Outdoor Pursuits program, which will include a 33-foot climbing wall, rental equipment for outdoor sports and a small bike repair shop. Outdoor Pursuits staff will organize fall and spring trips, as well as Winter Break trips.
Stephanie Reinhart, assistant director of Outdoor Pursuits, said it will be a resource for students, faculty, staff and the Muncie community.
"We wanted to give students privileges they can't find around Muncie," she said.
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