Purdue approves sports center

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Stanford Goodwin's take on the just opened $98 million renovation of the Purdue University recreational sports center was simple enough.

"I think it's amazing," the junior said after climbing on the bouldering wall. "It's not a prison cell anymore."

Now, the once 55-year-old facility, once known more for its aging equipment and lack of air conditioning, appears magically transformed into a glistening, high-tech matrix of health and fitness that is nearly 50 percent bigger than before. The job took two and half years. It's complete enough for most of the center to open this week for the campus community. Other parts will open in the next month.

"We wanted a building that was, 'wow,'" said Howard Taylor, director of recreational sports, who oversaw 20 focuses groups with students, a survey, and trips to other colleges' rec centers to guide the design process. "You just walk in and there is this wow effect."

The center, which will be named the France A. Córdova Recreational Sports Center for the university's recent president, is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

"I'm elated to see this student dream fulfilled, and deeply honored by the naming," Córdova told the Journal & Courier (http://on.jconline.com/QVEnx5 ) in a statement. "This remarkable center is a tribute to the students' imagination, leadership and diligence.

Córdova helped get lawmakers to back an idea to shift the cost of the project to students via a fee that is being phased in over three years. Purdue Student Government endorsed the plan. In fall 2011, new students started paying a $91 fee as part of their base tuition. This fall, a $182 fee was added to tuition.

Sunlight streams into the center through walls of glass that wrap around the corner of Martin Jischke Drive and Third Street. The east and west entrances are connected by a large atrium that spills into the middle of the facility to act as a meeting place. It has a wellness services and even offers snacks.

Taylor said increasing the amount of strength and cardio space, a running track, more basketball, volleyball and badminton courts were a priority — as were windows.

"The students said, 'We are tired of being in this closed-in, boxed-in feeling,' " he said. "A goal was to have a place where everyone can be comfortable and have a space they can keep coming back to."

The center's four levels include more than 500 pieces of strength and cardiovascular equipment, including some that face windows; racquetball courts; an aquatic center with a 24-person spa; a 50-foot climbing wall; a wellness area with cooking and therapy; and fitness areas for cardio and other exercise areas. There is a basement gym for badminton and volleyball and 10 other courts for basketball. An overlook lounge to watch people and juice bar are on the second level.

The locker rooms were expanded to hold 50 percent more lockers and private showers.

The expansion has brought the size to about 355,000 square feet.

There also are two running tracks — a one-eighth-mile, three-lane running track and a one-tenth-mile track. The track is made of 50 percent shock-absorbent material, an increase of the 18 percent used on most tracks, said Mitch Nettesheim, senior associate director of facilities and the sports center.

The center is open to students, faculty, staff and their family members. Retirees and alumni also can become members.

The center will not be completely finished until next summer. The last major addition will be the recreation pool, a 4-foot deep pool designed for relaxing, sports and rehabilitation.