Open house for temporary East Campus rec center is July 17

Activities Building will close after Oct. 12.
Activities Building will close after Oct. 12.

Campus Recreation is holding the first in a series of open houses for the Fleming Fields Annex Building, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. July 17. The building, located at 2301 N. 33rd St., will serve as a temporary exercise facility during construction of the new East Campus Rec Center.

Additional open house events are being planned for August and September. During the events, information will be presented on the facility's interior and layout, parking, memberships and other related topics. Refreshments will be served.

"We want to start the mental transition to FFAB well in advance of the physical move," said Sherri Tompkins, East Campus recreation coordinator. "Since the Activities Building has served the East Campus Rec Center for about 30 years, the move will definitely be adjustment for students and members. I want to make sure that they are prepared."

The Activities Building on East Campus will close Oct. 12. From Oct. 13–21, the cardio and strength training equipment will be dismantled and moved to the temporary building, which is scheduled to open Oct. 22.

The new East Campus Rec Center will be located on the site of the current Activities Building (built in 1926). The Activities Building’s original exterior walls with tall archway windows will be incorporated into the new design. The interior will receive a complete renovation with a new floor plan and modern finishes and amenities. The new facility will feature 57,000 square feet of space. The Activities Building today has 29,000 square feet.

The East Campus Rec Center is scheduled to open in summer 2014.

The project is funded through an increase in student fees, approved by a student vote held in October 2010. Additional projects funded through the "YES 2 Better Rec Centers" referendum are the Outdoor Adventure Center (opens fall 2013), the Cardio Zone (opened fall 2011), and an expansion of the strength training and cardio room (opens summer 2014).

For more information on the open houses or Campus Rec construction projects, contact Tompkins at 402-472-9036 or Christopher Dulak at 402-472-8749.