With a focus on enhancing the quality of life for the people of California embedded in its mission statement, the University of California Riverside (UCR) sought to expand its student recreation center to create a unified complex completely focused on student wellness. The revamped 155,000 sf, LEED Gold center offers expanded cardio and weight areas, spaces for cutting-edge fitness classes, intramural sports, a 237,000 gallon swimming pool and 32’ climbing wall and bouldering area among other amenities.
Student health and wellness remains a core focus for UCR and is strengthened with the expanded recreation center. The facility allows for new synergies across recreation, intramurals, student health services, counseling, housing, dining and other student resources. This increased collaboration is creating new and more abundant wellness possibilities for students. Additionally, key environmental design features such as the undulating building screen allow for enhanced daylight in the facility – also impacting student wellness.
Along with growing its recreation offerings, UCR also desired a campus icon that expanded access for the campus community. The rejuvenated facility creates a meaningful connection to the existing building, characterized by a robust second floor “bridge” that connects students to the key fitness spaces on the second floor – all offering striking views of the pool, campus and mountainside.