USU Opens Doors of New Aggie Recreation Center to Students
The exterior of Utah State University's Aggie Recreation Center that opened Nov. 19 for students at USU.
Utah State University opened the doors of the new Aggie Recreation Center Nov. 19 in a ceremony that included local and state higher education dignitaries.
“It was clear that USU’s recreational facilities had become outdated and had fallen behind the standards and trends of its peer institutions,” said James Morales, vice president for student services. “The Aggie Recreation Center will address the recreational needs of USU’s Logan students, as well as enhance their sense of community and engagement on campus.”
The new recreation center will replace many of the functions previously provided by the Health, Physical Education and Recreation building built in 1972 and the Nelson field house built in 1939. While some improvements were made over the years to each of these facilities to accommodate a variety of recreational activities and academic objectives, the buildings were unable to keep pace with rising demand from students. Between 2008 and 2011, student use of the Nelson field house alone increased by 71 percent.
The idea for the recreation center was originally put forth in the spring of 2009 by the president of the USU student association at the time Tyler Tolson, who also secured support from other student leaders, university administrators, staff and faculty. Tolson’s idea was carried forward by subsequent student body presidents. Ultimately, students passed a fee increase in February 2012 to pay for the $30 million project. This fee increase only applies to students of the USU Logan campus.
“Student fees increased by $50 to pay for the Aggie Recreation Center, making it a building funded by students and only for students,” said Morales.
The state-of-the-art 105,000-square-foot building includes hardwood gym courts, an elevated indoor track, a multi-activity court, a 4,600-square-foot fitness center, group fitness studios and student lounges. It will also include USU’s outdoor programs, which will open in the new recreation center in January 2016. These include a climbing wall, repelling ledge and an outdoor recreation rental shop.
AJC Architecture of Salt Lake City, Utah, and 360 Architects of Kansas City, Missouri, designed the Aggie Recreation Center, and it was built by Layton Construction of Salt Lake City, Utah.
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Contact: Chase Ellis, director, Campus Recreation, chase.ellis@usu.edu
Writer: Amanda DeRito, PR specialist, amanda.derito@usu.edu
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