The facility, which has been in the works for five years, will not only be bigger but will have much more to offer students in terms of equipment, services and aesthetic appeal, Dan Byrnes, director of Sports Facilities and Recreation Services, said.
"I'll be really excited to see the students who have been here for a few years to see what we've done and how we've changed and improved our facility," Byrnes said.
The first thing students will see is how the building has changed on the outside.
"It will grab your eye as you go by, since it has a neat, what I like to call ‘storefront,' and it will be one of the jewels on campus," Byrnes said.
The outside of the building is not the only thing that has changed; the inside has undergone a complete makeover.
"[Students] will enjoy the new square footage," Byrnes said. "We've tripled the size of our fitness areas, and we've done that on three different levels. We've not only tripled the space, but the amount of equipment we have."
The Recreation Center has many new features, making it a building for students to not only exercise, but socialize as well. Some of the new facilities include the climbing wall, several new multipurpose and dance rooms, combative arts rooms, a hanging track, an indoor turf field and the Outdoor Pursuits Center. Quiznos is a newcomer to both Ball State and the Recreation Center, and a snack bar will also be available to students. New programs will be offered this year as well.
"We'll expand our group exercise; we'll have over 50 classes per week from traditional step aerobics, to Zumba, to women with weights," Byrnes said. "There will be a variety of outdoor programs, workshops, classes and clinics offered through the Outdoor Pursuits Center, [where students can learn] how to kayak and mountain bike. There will also be expanded intramural sports and wellness opportunities where you can come in and find out how to get more fit."
Byrnes said the facility is trying to cut down on student costs for these wellness opportunities by utilizing Ball State faculty and students.
"We're trying to get other departments on campus to come in and provide clinics or one-day sessions on how to improve your wellness, and keep that to a minimal cost," he said. "Sometimes when we bring experts in, there's a small fee."
Student expectations have grown with the wait and anticipation of the Recreation Center's opening.
"I've heard there's a new rock wall; I'm really excited to use it," sophomore Ben Easley said. "I'm also really excited to see all the new facilities that are available. I've heard that there's a new Quiznos, which is groovy."
Byrnes said there were no setbacks in the construction and planning of the facility, and that it will be ready for students by move-in day. The Recreation Center is meant to be a big selling point for prospective Ball State students, he said, and is a tremendous improvement over the old facility.
"I expect it to have better equipment and not seem so impersonal," senior Joey Marsh said.
The facility is continuing to hire student staff during the school year, and Byrnes encouraged students to be on the lookout for job postings through Cardinal Viewjobs.
"You have to come by and check us out and see what we have to offer," he said. "It's just a neat place that you have to experience. Even if you're not a real active person, there might be some activities or events that you'll like."
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