Cal State Fullerton's fitness center taking shape
Orange County Register 1/16/07
Soon, he will be able to stay inside and work out at the same time.
The walls are starting to go up on the university's long-awaited Student Recreation Center. The two-story, 95,000-square-foot building will feature a multicourt gymnasium for basketball and volleyball, weightlifting and fitness equipment and a large climbing wall.
"That rec center can't be ready soon enough," Kim, a 20-year-old sophomore, said while glancing over at the construction site. "That's going to be a very cool thing for our school. And I bet it'll be packed."
An outdoor lap pool and an indoor track will also be part of the project, anticipated to cost $40.6 million. Funds for the center will come entirely from student fees and revenues from the operation of the center.
By noon Monday, eight large concrete walls had been tilted up, and the outline of the project began to take shape. In all, 59 concrete panels will go up. The center, between the existing gym and a parking structure, is set to open in January 2008.
Esteban Romero, 23, said he's envious that students who come after him will get such a modern facility. The senior history major said fitness opportunities have been sorely lacking at the university.
"Most of my friends have memberships to a gym around here because the racquetball courts here just don't cut it," he said.
"I think people will be more likely to hang out on campus or work out after class with such a nice center," Romero went on to say. "I only wish it'd open before I graduate."
A Web camera will monitor construction progress at http://d-c.fullerton.edu/WebCam/src.htm.