Groundbreaking On Feb. 6 Celebrates Construction Of $15 Million Student Recreation Center At SSU

The Sonoma Student Union at Sonoma State University will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 6, at noon to celebrate the start of construction of a new $15 million dollar Student Recreation Center.

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 facility.

Collection of this increased fee began this past fall, when the Student Union fee increased by $80 per semester. In the Fall of ¹03, fees will step up again to $95 per semester.

"This rec center has been ten years in the making" says Pam Su, Recreational Sports Coordinator. "The increasing number of on-campus residents, unmet demand on the current facilities, and desire for new activity space all supported this project."

Located immediately south of Darwin Hall on the SSU campus, the two story 58,000 square-foot facility will have two gymnasiums that will be usable for basketball, volleyball, and indoor soccer, and badminton.

A climbing wall will be located in the front of the building and accented by a glass enclosure.

More than 8,000 square feet will be devoted to aerobic exercise equipment and weights training.

The building will also feature 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.

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 new Recreation Center offers new opportunities in recreational programming for all members of the University community and will provide new jobs for students as well," says Stacey Nugent, Student Chair of the Student Union Board of Directors.

Construction is scheduled to last roughly 14 months. Completion is due in April of 2004. Architects are LPA, Incorporated.

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

NOTE: An artist's rendering of the facility is available upon request. A low resolution rendering of the building can be seen at www.sonoma.edu/pubs/release/2003/314.html

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