History of Campus Recreation

In 1971, the newly completed Physical, Education & Recreation building, managed by the department of Health, Physical, Education & Recreation (HPER) was considered one of the finest recreation facilities around. Between 1979 and 1982, the Campus Recreation department moved from HPER to Student Affairs. In 1999, the Student Recreation and Fitness Center was renovated and the Larry O. Finch men's basketball practice facility was added. In January 2000, the building was rededicated at its grand opening as the Student Recreation and Fitness Center, which housed what was then Campus Recreation and the Larry O. Finch Center.

The facilities included the following: three full-size gyms, indoor and outdoor 50-meter swimming pools with an accompanying outdoor dive well and an indoor leisure pool, aerobics studio, fitness studio, steam room/sauna/whirlpool, cardio room, circuit/free weight room, men's/women's locker rooms, massage therapy room, swim club office, seven handball/racquetball courts, indoor golf range, core training room, a rowing studio/functional training court, a multi-use field, classroom, a recreational equipment room, a smoothie bar and administrative offices.

The new R. Martin Student Wellness Center opened on June 30. 2021. The two-story building features cardio and weight areas throughout the building, the Tiger Food Lab teaching kitchen, Tiger Cafe smoothie bar, indoor walking track, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, wellness patio, outdoor leisure pool, four fitness studios including a High Intensity Studio, Mind-Body Studio, Cycle Studio, and general purpose Fitness Studio, 

The former Student Recreation and Fitness Center now houses our intramurals and club sports, as well as our indoor pool, which is being renovated as a natatorium expected to open in late 2022.