The new rec center gets accolades
The new Campus Recreation & Wellness Center has been coaxing the masses into workout clothes since it opened on Aug. 2.
The three-story building surrounded by glass windows has had around 5,000 people going through its doors each day, said Harry Ostrander, the director of Recreational Services.
"[Feedback] has been great — everyone loves it," said Kerry DuBay, the associate director of membership services and marketing in Recreational Services.
The UI will hold a dedication ceremony in the building at 2 p.m. today to formally introduce the community to the new facility.
The Recreation Center's attendan ce is equal to what the Field House used to see, Ostrander said, but the Field House numbers have gone down dramatically to roughly 2,500. Fitness East's daily attendance is sitting at around 57 people per day.
The new facility has 1,136 lockers — all which sold out within the first few weeks, Ostrander said. But around 300 coin-operated rental lockers are available to those who were not able to get a permanent rental one, he noted.
The majority of the $70.1 million used to build the new facility came from UI student fees, $225 per student, DuBay said, and this is why UI students receive automatic memberships.
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Approximately 1,500 nonstudent memberships — which are mostly made up of UI faculty and staff — have been filled since the opening, DuBay said.
That includes one for Mary Gillette, a secretary at the University Bookstore.
"I like the closeness," she said. "It's somewhere I can easily walk to and from."
Jackie Stolze, an editorial associate for the UI College of Engineering, said she appreciates the location as well. She also enjoys the additional perks to the facility outside of working out.
"I like that you can get lunch or a snack," she said, referring to the café that sits in the lobby of the building.
But there are some who prefer working out in a less-crowded environment.
"I can see [the rec center] getting really busy," said UI business and finance major Josh Kolbus. "I might have to go back to the Field House during the afternoon hours."
Originally, some members of 319 Fitness, located at 111 E. Washington St., flocked to the new facility, said Stan Szeto, a manager. But he's seeing people return who say they prefer their original gym.
"From what I understand, it's really unorganized," he said. "It's too many people at once."
And some students agree.
"It's a little confusing when you first get here," said UI junior Justin Bucklin. "[There could] maybe be a little more free-weights and dumbbells."
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