History
The new 97,085 SF UCCS Recreation and Wellness Center opened its doors for use in January 2016, and is the first in the nation to co-host Campus Recreation, Student Health and the Counseling Center. Designed by Barker Rinker Seacat (Denver, CO) and the Hughes Group (Sterling, VA), added elements of Nutrition will cement UCCS as a health and wellness conscious community with programs and services to complement Campus Recreation, Student Health and the Counseling Center's wellness philosophy. The $16.3 million student-funded Recreation and Wellness Center offers a 14,900 SF fitness center with state-of-the art cardio and strength equipment, an Aquatic Center with a 25-yard lap pool, leisure pool, hot tub, and water slide, 4 basketball gyms lined for volleyball and badminton, indoor track, 2 group fitness studios, the Student Outdoor Learning Experiences (SOLE) Center offering bike rentals, outdoor equipment rentals, a bouldering wall, maps, a bike repair shop and ski/snowboard tuning area, and separate office and social spaces for the Intramural and Club Sports Programs. Recreation and Wellness amenities and services include men's and women's locker rooms with private showers, family restrooms, a multipurpose meeting room, locker rental and free sports equipment check out.
The new UCCS Recreation and Wellness Center continues in the institution's standard of committing to the environment and sustainability, and is a LEED Gold certified building.
UCCS' first recreation center, totaling 54,000 SF, opened its doors in the Fall of 2007 serving a student population of approximately 7,700. At that time, the UCCS Recreation Center was the first Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design (LEED) Gold certified public building in southern Colorado, and only second LEED Gold certified recreation center in the nation. The prestigious LEED Gold certification is awarded by the Green Building Council to facilities meeting strict criteria through a performance rating system that evaluate a facility as a sustainable site. Fall 2014 student enrollment exceeded 11,100, and with the growing student population and demand for recreation and activity area facilities and programs, students overwhelmingly supported a student referendum in Spring 2012 to fund the recreation center expansion to the existing UCCS Recreation Center. We thank our UCCS students for their support of the referendum, allowing so many collaborative partners to work together to bring the new Recreation and Wellness Center to fruition.
Click here for the new Recreation and Wellness Center's facts, figures and amenities.
Current facility features:
- Aquatic Center, featuring 4 x 25-yard lap lanes, leisure area with vortex pool, and spa / hot tub
- Fitness center with state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength training equipment
- Gymnasium with basketball courts (2)
- Indoor track, one lap equals 1/13 of a mile
- Bouldering wall, 12' in height
- Free equipment check out
- Student Outdoor Learning Experiences (S.O.L.E.) Center featuring outdoor trips and equipment rentals
- Multipurpose studio
- Men's and women's locker rooms with private showers
- Family restrooms
- Locker rental available
- Multipurpose meeting room