Recreation center fit for a university

On Thursday, students looking to burn off some energy at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs could do the following:

Vie for some time in the campus’ middle school-size gymnasium, also shared by intercollegiate sports; break a sweat in a cramped, 1980s-era weight room; go for a run along Austin Bluffs Parkway; or perhaps do some laps around campus buildings.

Today, their options brighten.

Doors were scheduled to open at 6 a.m. today on UCCS’ new $12 million recreation center. It’s the latest in a boom of construction projects either under way or planned for the CU system’s fastest-growing campus.

For students, it’s certain to win the title for most fun.

Features include:

- A 143,000-gallon pool, complete with a water slide, whirlpool area, lap lanes and bar stools.

- A 20-person hot tub with a view of Pikes Peak and an adjacent outdoor deck.

- A juice bar.

- An indoor running track.

- Two basketball/volleyball courts. c Dozens of fitness and weight machines.

- An aerobics room.

- A climbing wall (to come in October).

The project was funded by an increase in student fees of $80 a semester, approved by students in April 2005.

It was helped with donations by Bahram Akradi, a UCCS alumnus who is president and chairman of a national health club chain, Life Time Fitness.

Akradi donated the dozens of pieces of exercise equipment, including exercise bikes, treadmills, weight machines and stair machines. They are valued between $700,000 and $1 million, according to UCCS. He also provided consulting on the building’s design. Last week, during the center’s dedication ceremony, he surprised university officials with a check for $100,000.

The 1982 graduate came to the United States from Iran in 1978 and worked part time while going to school. He rose through the ranks of the fitness market to start his own health club chain, now with about 70 locations.

The rec center comes after the recently completed $10 million remodeling of Dwire Hall, one of the campus’ most prominent academic buildings. A $53 million science and engineering building is under way and scheduled to open in spring 2008.

Long-term plans for the campus include a sports arena and a research park along North Nevada Avenue.

The rec center also testifies to UCCS’s transformation from a commuter school with little campus life and an older student body, to one that’s attracting more traditional fulltime students who live or spend much of their time on campus.

Although most students still commute, in recent years the campus has added hundreds of dorm rooms. The average age of students has decreased, and the number of classes they take at one time has increased.

In 2005, for the first time, the majority of freshmen shifted from commuting to living on campus, and the average courseload shifted from part time to full time.

The rec center will also be available to students’ families, and staff members and their families, for a fee, said Jeff Davis, director of University Center. The rec center will be staffed by university employees and students, he said.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0198 or bnewsome@gazette.com