Construction is underway on a new recreation and wellness center at the University of Iowa. Officials held a groundbreaking ceremony this morning on the $69 million dollar facility, located at the corner of Burlington and Madison Streets on the U of I campus in Iowa City.
Kerry DuBay, Assistant Marketing Director for Recreational Services, says the new building will house two swimming pools, a separate diving well, three multipurpose courts, and fitness space. DuBay says the building will have exterior walls made of glass and will 20,000 square feet of fitness space, with state of art exercise equipment. The current recreation center on campus is the old Fieldhouse, which was built in 1927.
DuBay says the new rec building will help the university recruit and retain students. "Students are expecting top notch recreation facilities," DuBay says, "so it’s going to be a huge improvement on this campus." The U of I Athletic Department is covering $9 million of the construction, with the rest coming from student fees. The facility, which is scheduled to be completed by 2010, will be open to the general public.