University News

Spencer Recreation Center Reaching End of Expansion Project

August 25, 2008

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MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University's Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center (SRC) has fitness options for most everyone--especially now that its $6.2 million expansion project is almost complete.

Over the last year, the 11-year-old facility has been undergoing a significant expansion project that will add 21,000-square-feet of space. The larger, improved facility will provide users with additional state-of-the-art exercise equipment and more space in which to work out, according to Milly MacDonell, Campus Recreation director.

Approved by the WIU Board of Trustees in January 2006, the expansion project's construction began in Fall 2007. Although the work is a bit behind due to weather- and material-related delays, noted MacDonell, many of the SRC's improvements are currently available.

"We are hoping that construction will finish up sometime this fall, possibly around mid-October," MacDonell explained. "New and returning students, as well as WIU faculty and staff, however, will be able to use some of the new equipment and parts of the expanded facility when they return to campus this month."

Prior to the expansion project, the SRC was 78,000-square-feet and built to house such fitness amenities as the Aquatics Center, the Cardio Plaza and an indoor track. With the expansion, it will boast more than 100,000-square-feet of fitness space and provide several new high-end exercise machines.

Highlights of the improvements and additions to the Spencer Student Recreation Center include:

  • State-of-the-art track with flooring product manufactured by Mondo, the same flooring material used in the Olympics;
  • Cardio Bridge, which features four Internet-capable Espresso bikes and four new Precor Adaptive Motion trainers as well as 14 new, 42-inch LG LCD flat panel TVs with audio controls;
  • Multi Activity Gym (MAC), which features rounded corners and inset areas for soccer and hockey nets. The MAC gym features basketball backboards that can be raised to accommodate various sporting activities, including volleyball, soccer and roller hockey;
  • New weight room, which features Mondo's "ultimate rubber flooring, Sport Impact." According to MacDonell this flooring material is very durable and highly resistant to denting and cutting. The weight room also received several new pieces of weightlifting-related equipment, including 26 new Lifefitness benches; 14 pieces of Hammer Strength iso-lateral, plate-loaded equipment; five new dumbbell racks; one new set of dumbbells; 140 new Olympic weight plates; two new Startrac Maxtracks with three-plane movement; 20 new Cybex selectorized pieces of equipment; and storage cubbies on the north end;
  • Fitness Studio East, outfitted with a new sound system and includes a Cybex circuit-training area and has more open space for classes;
  • Fitness Studio West, constructed with a wood floor and can be divided into two sections;
  • The Court Room area--where racquetball and wallyball activities take place--will now include some cardio equipment and televisions as well as a personal training area;
  • Boxing area with a speed bag and a heavy bag;
  • New office area, with a break room, graduate student office, design office and a Campus Recreation conference room.

With the newly expanded facility, MacDonell expects the usage of the center to maintain a busy pace.

"Anywhere from 1,600 to 2,300 individuals use the center daily," she said. "We are very excited about the new options the center will offer," MacDonell said. "We are asking everyone to be patient with the continued work, and we're also asking for feedback and suggestions from students, faculty and staff about how we can help make the center more user-friendly."

Feedback can be emailed to C-Recreation@wiu.edu or left in the suggestion boxes located within the center, she added.

Use of the Student Recreation Center is available to Western students who have at least one hour of a fee-paying class. Memberships for current and retired Western faculty and staff and their spouses can be purchased for a $250 annual fee, and alumni memberships are also available. All memberships can be purchased at the front desk located in the SRC, and faculty and staff can have the membership fee deducted through payroll.

"To kick off this year's 'Health and Wellness: Challenges and Responsibilities' theme, Campus Recreation is offering a Wellness Pass in support of employee wellness," MacDonell noted. "Faculty and staff can buy a one-time, six-week trial membership for $25 so they can test out the new facility, exercise equipment and classes."

For more information about Campus Recreation and the newly expanded Spencer Student Recreation Center, contact (309) 298-1228, C-Recreation@wiu.edu or visit student.services.wiu.edu/crec.

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing