STONY BROOK, N.Y., July 7, 2008 — Stony Brook University has received the additional $18 million dollar allocation needed for the construction of the new Campus Recreation Center (CRC) on the main campus, announced President Shirley Strum Kenny. The $37.5 million 85,000 square foot Campus Recreation Center is a student-oriented facility featuring contemporary work out space, space for a quality intramural program and for sports club teams for practice and competition. Senator Ken LaValle was instrumental in securing funding for this exciting new project, which should be completed by 2011.
Campus Recreation Center
The new facility will be located between the Sports Complex and the Student Union. The patio will serve as the entry way to each facility, and students, faculty, and staff would continue to access the Sports Complex for recreational swim, racquetball and squash.
The University currently is unable to meet the recreational, intramural, wellness, and sport club needs of the student body in the Sports Complex due to the high demand for athletic practices and special community events. The Wellness Center and non-credit fitness classes are extremely popular among students and there are times when students are turned away due to overcrowding.
“Student Life on campus is booming and the Campus Recreation Center will provide additional space for wellness programming, expand and enhance the indoor intramural program,” says Susan DiMonda, Associate Dean and Director of Student Life. “It will also provide space for the 34 sport clubs for practices, competition, and equipment storage.”
The CRC is designed to become a campus landmark with glass windows spanning much of the exterior. It will be visibly prominent and inviting, providing those on the outside with a view of the many diverse activities available within, including a three court gym; an indoor multipurpose sport court; aerobic/martial arts rooms; spinning studio; cardiovascular, free weights, and weight machine area; jogging track; locker room facilities; and staff offices.
Administrators and students have been working on this project since fall 1999 when an advisory board comprising student leaders and staff from the Office of Student Affairs and the Department of Campus Recreation met to discuss the concept of building a new Campus Recreation Center. These meetings were held in response to inquiries from the student body regarding the lack of recreational facilities on campus. In the weeks that followed the advisory group toured two new facilities at University of New Hampshire and Northeastern University. Upon returning to campus it was evident that Stony Brook University was lacking a comprehensive component of student life - a Campus Recreation Center. However, due to the lack of funding available the project was on hold until all of the necessary funds were secured.
Development of the CRC officially began in 2005 when Stony Brook secured $19.5 million for the project. It was later determined that an additional $18 million was needed to make the center comprehensive and contemporary. Currently in the final design phase, Sasaki Associates, Inc. of Boston, is the principle architectural firm on the project. Sasaki is well versed in the requirements of constructing recreation facilities as evidenced in their recent sports facility work at MIT, Cornell University, and the University at Albany. In 2006, a Student Advisory Board met with university administrators and representatives from Sasaki Associates, Inc. to determine the location and facility components.
What students at Stony Brook University are saying about the long anticipated project:
“The construction of a Campus Recreation Center at Stony Brook is terrific. It will give all students the ability to recreate, not just athletes, and will create a diversion from classes and the pressures of college life.” -- Michael Publico, senior
“The new facility will be a wonderful addition to the campus. It will not only resolve the overcrowding in the current wellness center but will become another place where students can socialize.” -- Jing Jing Xue, sophomore
“I’ve been hearing about this project since I was a freshman. The new facility will bring a much needed boost to the wellness facilities and programs and will be a change for the better.” -- Rafael Matos, senior, Wellness Center Coordinator
“It is good for the overall campus community and will create more opportunities and reasons for students to remain on campus on the weekends.” -- Jennifer Hernandez, junior/ intramural program participant.
For additional information contact Susan DiMonda at (631) 632-7206 or by e-mail at: susan.dimonda@stonybrook.edu
