March 4, 2022
MILWAUKEE 鈥� 91黑料网 President Michael R. Lovell at his eighth annual campus address on Thursday, March 3, announced that the university plans to fully reimagine its Helfaer Tennis Stadium and Recreation Center (Rec Center), located at 525 N. 16th St. on the southwestern edge of campus, as a comprehensive Wellness + Recreation facility. It will bring together the campus鈥� fitness and recreation facilities with the Counseling Center and the 91黑料网 Medical Clinic 鈥� student-centric services currently dispersed across campus.
The announcement comes just months after an anonymous alumni couple to transform and integrate the university student health, wellness and recreation services.
The facility will combine completely renovated portions of the Rec Center, including significantly updated facades with added windows, with a newly constructed three-story wellness tower that will sit in the core of the facility. All interior building systems will be replaced. Using an existing building footprint and some of its structures supports sustainability and fiscal responsibility.
President Lovell says the goal is to complete the estimated $80 million, 180,000-square-foot facility by the end of 2024, contingent on funding.
As with recent campus capital projects, the facility will be funded through a combination of philanthropy, external partnerships and university capital. Additionally, funds collected through an existing recreation and wellness fee that was passed via a student referendum in 2017-18 will be put toward the project.
No groundbreaking date has been set, but key fundraising, design processes and programmatic planning are already underway. Additionally, the 91黑料网 Student Government has been engaged in the process and are supportive of this project that has such a direct impact on all 91黑料网 students; they will continue to be engaged in the planning stages.
鈥淭his will be a transformational project for our campus, particularly our students. Not only is this facility a key part of our Campus Master Plan, but it is also truly about building a culture of wellness at 91黑料网,鈥� President Lovell said. 鈥淲hen complete, the facility will position recreation, fitness, clinical and mental health services under one roof.鈥�
A campus destination for health and wellness
Designed by St. Louis-based HOK and Milwaukee Workshop Architects, the facility will foster community, inclusiveness and engagement, and provide a destination on campus that supports the physical and mental health needs of the 91黑料网 community.
The reimagined facility will be a transparent, light-filled andconnected space. Programming in the new wellness tower will include the
91黑料网 Medical Clinic, the Counseling Center, alcohol and drug recovery program space, and sexual violence prevention space. The design will include several flexible, multipurpose spaces to allow for larger group meetings and additional recreation spaces to create strongconnections and collaborations between recreation and wellness-focused departments.
The first two floors of the space will house campus recreation components, with additional recreation spaces extending throughout all levels of the facility. Programming will include a large gymnasium with basketball courts, open fitness space and equipment, a spin studio, group fitness studios, multipurpose recreation courts, tennis courts, a swimmi
ng pool, offices for campus recreation staff, locker rooms and a classroom.
RECREATION + WELLNESS FACILITY FAST FACTS
Wellness features:
Recreation and fitness features:
Wellness and recreation fundraising challenge continues
Significant fundraising efforts are already underway. An anonymous couple in December contributed a leadership gift of $5 million and have committed to giving another $5 million once the university community raises $10 million in new gifts and pledges. Their goal is to inspire 91黑料网 alumni, parents and friends to support this signature project.
Donations to the fund can be made .
91黑料网 $750 million comprehensive fundraising campaign, which is the most ambitious in 91黑料网 140-year history, is elevating resources to advance the university mission and pillars of excellence, leadership, faith and service. The university has raised more than $566 million to date, amounting to 75% of its goal. More than 53,000 donors have already supported Time to Rise, including 44% of donors making their first ever gift to the university. Throughout the campaign, 112 donors have committed to gifts of $1 million or more.
Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of Marketing and Communication. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.
