New $15 Million Student Rec Center Nears Completion On SSU Campus

A new $15 million student recreation center is nearing completion at Sonoma State University that has been ten years in the making.

"The increasing number of on-campus residents, unmet demand on the current facilities, and desire for new activity space all supported this project," says Pam Su, Recreational Sports Coordinator. The building is expected to open in August for the fall semester.

Located immediately south of Darwin Hall, the two-story 58,000 square foot facility has two gymnasiums for basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer. A climbing wall is located in the front of the facility and is accented by a glass enclosure.

Su notes the project has sustainable building practices in mind such as daylighting, energy efficient lighting systems, hydronic heating in the floors, grey water usage in the toilets, and building materials and furniture using earth-friendly components such as recycled glass, paper, plastic, and even seatbelts. A solar panel array is being considered.

Thanks to a $27,000 grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board, rubber safety flooring has been installed under the climbing wall using recycled California tires.

More than 7,400 square feet will be devoted to fitness and weight training equipment and users will have access to a hot tub jacuzzi.

The building features a jogging track and two large multi-purpose rooms for dance and leisure class instruction. A new OutDoor Pursuits area will provide opportunities for members of the campus community to obtain information and equipment for outdoor activities. A wellness center and massage therapy program is also included in the new facility.

Faced with the ever increasing need and desire for more recreational space on campus, the students of Sonoma State voted to increase their Student Union fee in November of 2000 to support construction of the new Recreation Center.

Collection of this increased fee began in 2002, when the Student Union fee increased by $80 per semester. In the fall of 2003, fees stepped up again to $95 per semester.

Construction of the new recreation center is made possible through the Sonoma Student Union, a non-profit auxiliary corporation of Sonoma State University.

Funded by the students of Sonoma State University, the Student Union will administer the improved and larger offerings of their recreational sports programs through the operation of this new facility.

The Student Union is funded strictly from student fees and uses no general fund money from the State.

Architect for the building is LPA from Irvine, Calif. Building contractor is Wright Contracting of Santa Rosa.

Previously, the campus recreational activities operated out of a 5400 sq. foot fitness center plus the sharing of the University's gymnasium with other SSU programs.

Contact: Jean Wasp, Media Relations Coordinator, (707) 664-2057