News & Updates

Windows Being Installed in Multipurpose Rooms and Offices (September 27, 2012)

Now that the outside of the University Recreation and Wellness Center has become nearly "air tight", JE Dunn Construction has begun installing window frames and windows on the interior portions of the 7 multipurpose rooms and administrative offices.

Climbing Wall to Be Completed in October (September 1, 2012)

The University Recreation and Wellness Center will complete a major milestone in October with the finishing of the new indoor climbing and bouldering wall. The new wall, built by Colorado based Eldorado Climbing Walls, will have 3 lead routes and 7 top rope routes. The wall will also feature 2 natural cracks to challenge climbers. Although the wall will be completed in October, it will no open until the grand opening of the University Recreation and Wellness Center in the Fall of 2013.

Beacon Street Road Impairment (August 15-24, 2012)

The Rec Center Expansion project will be closing Beacon Street between Harvard and Walnut from August 15-24 to remove two tower cranes from the construction site. In order to remove the two tower cranes, a third, larger crane must be brought in and positioned on Beacon Street. Once the parts of the crane are removed, they will be transported away from the site on several semi-trucks, which will likely also cause temporary disruption in traffic flow on Walnut and Harvard Street. Thank you to everyone for their patience!

Beacon Street Road Impairment (May 18, 2012)

The Rec Center Expansion project will be closing Beacon Street between Harvard and Walnut on Friday, May 18 from 6:00-10:00am for a major concrete pour. This pour will require the use of a pumper truck with outriggers that will block Beacon Street entirely. The difference with this pumper truck from previous pours is the distance needed to reach to the highest part of the building. Due to the height, the reach required results in wider outriggers to stabilize the truck. A flagging crew will be at both ends of Beacon to maintain traffic flow and to direct concrete trucks staging. The University Scholars Walk will remain open at all times during this operation. Thank you to everyone for their patience!

Beacon Street Road Impairment (January 31, 2012)

On Tuesday, January 31, 2012 Beacon Street will be limited to one lane of traffic from approximately 7:00am to 10:00pm due to a major concrete pour at the University Recreation and Wellness Center Expansion project.

Concrete trucks will be set up on the north side of Beacon Street and will be traveling through the area to deliver concrete to the pumping trucks throughout the day. Trucks will come into the site on Harvard from the north and turn left onto Beacon.

During this road impairment, flag persons will be on both ends of this area to continually direct traffic flow. Two way traffic will be able to use Beacon at all times. However, there will be a point on Beacon where only one vehicle at a time will be able to travel through. The Scholar's Walk will remain open at all times during this operation.

Construction Begins on University Recreation and Wellness Center Expansion

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (May 16, 2011) - Construction has begun on the University Recreation and Wellness Center Expansion! The project will affect Recreational Sports patrons in the near future in the following ways:

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Both entrances on the south side of the University Aquatic Center will be closed. The only access point for events and public lap swim is the north side of the Aquatic Center.
The east sidewalk of Harvard will be closed to pedestrian traffic. Recreation Center patrons will need to use the west side of Harvard to access the University Recreation and Wellness Center if coming from the south. All traffic from the north will not be affected by the construction process.
The Scholars Walk will remain open during construction. There will be a covered portion of the Scholars Walk between the south portion of the new building and the north side of Beacon.
The south lawn of Cooke Hall is a possible staging area for the construction crew. With potential of the Physics & Nanotechnology construction project also beginning, it is not currently known if this will be a staging and storage trailer area for JE Dunn Construction. This all depends on what happens at the MN Legislative Sessions. Regardless, it will still be considered a restricted area and will not be programmed by Recreational Sports during the construction.
Recreational Sports will be installing a web camera on the Washington Avenue parking structure. Check back frequently for updates!

Timeline

September 26 Update

JE Dunn Construction continues to excavate for interior footings in the center of the building and exterior footings on the east end of the site. As excavation takes place, concrete footings are also being poured. Columns are being poured within the interior of the expansion facility and exterior walls are also being formed. By the middle of October, the entire exterior basement wall is scheduled to be poured and formed.
Scaffolding towers are being constructed in the area adjacent to the expansion facility and the University Aquatic Center. This will start a sequence of floor pourings. All four floors of the expansion facility are scheduled to be poured by early 2012.

August 10 Update

From August 19-24, two cranes will be constructed on the site of the University Recreation Center expansion. Approximately 24 semi truck trailer loads of crane parts will need to be delivered through campus via Pillsbury Drive and Harvard Street. To ensure the most efficient delivery process, semi trailers will be using the parking metered area along Pillsbury Drive (south of the Fieldhouse) as a holding site. Once a semi truck unloads its crane parts to the expansion site, the semi truck from the holding site on Pillsbury Drive will take its place. For this reason, four of the metered parking spaces will be unavailable from August 19-24.

July 27, 2011 Update

The excavation of the University Recreation Center expansion site will continue over the next couple of weeks. JE Dunn Construction will be able to get to the bottom of its excavation once the installation of new fiber optic cable along University Avenue is completed and the previous cable running through the expansion site is deactivated.
The first substantial concrete pour began this week at the steam tunnel slab just south of the existing University Recreation Center. During the week of August 1, JE Dunn will begin to form and reinforce the steam tunnel’s walls.
The blue steel section that can be seen near the corner of Harvard and Beacon is the base section for the west tower crane which will be constructed in the next several weeks. The crane’s footing is currently being reinforced with cement. JE Dunn plans to pour the footing for the crane and the south foundation wall during the week of July 25, weather permitting. An east tower crane closer to the east end of the University Aquatic Center will also be constructed in the next few weeks.
The south Aquatics lobby exit is now closed and will remain closed until the grand opening in 2013. The fire retardant doors in the north and south gymnasiums are nearly complete on the north and south gymnasiums. All work on the URC third floor should be completed by the week of August 1.

June 27 Update

Dirt excavation continues at the site of the URC expansion. The dirt from the URC expansion will be transported over to Bierman Outdoor Fields to be used for the new indoor/outdoor turf and inflatable structure project. Since trucks will be transporting more dirt to Bierman Outdoor Fields, traffic will likely increase in the near future.
Dirt excavation for the URC expansion is scheduled to be completed by mid-to-late July.
Fencing has been installed on the south end of the construction site near the Scholars Walk.
Construction has been completed on the covered walkway above the Scholars Walk.
The South Gymnasium’s southeast emergency exit is closed. All pedestrians will exit from the southwest corner of the gymnasium.
The University Aquatic Center’s south and southeast emergency exits are closed. All pedestrians will be able to exit through the University Aquatic Center’s north or northeast emergency exits and the west emergency exit which leads into the University Recreation Center.
The South Gymnasium’s temporary southwest emergency exit is complete. It now wraps around the southwest corner of the University Recreation Center. The base of the staircase faces north toward University Avenue.

June 1 Update

Fencing completed on the south end of the construction site near the Scholars Walk
Dirt removed from the site of the University Recreation Center expansion and transported to east end of Bierman Outdoor Fields. JE Dunn construction will be digging anywhere from 5-12 feet into the ground to remove the dirt for the URC expansion.
2 hour firewall completed on the west end of the University Aquatic Center lobby.
Construction begins on the covered walkway above the Scholars Walk. Note: there may be temporary delays for pedestrians attempting to walk along the Scholars Walk near the construction site while the covered walkway is completed.
The South Gymnasium’s southeast emergency exit will be closed. All pedestrians will exit from the southwest corner of the gymnasium.
The University Aquatic Center’s south and southeast emergency exits will be closed. All pedestrians will be able to exit through the University Aquatic Center’s north or northeast emergency exits and the west emergency exit which leads into the University Recreation Center.
The South Gymnasium’s southwest emergency exit will be reconfigured to wrap around the southwest corner of the University Recreation Center. The base of the staircase will face north toward University Avenue.

May 16 - June 1

Fencing installed around the perimeter of parking lot C12, the future site of the University Recreation Center expansion
Emergency exits in the South Court Corridor, South Gymnasium (SW exit), and Aquatic Center Lobby (South exit) are closed
JE Dunn Construction offices made operational in the University Recreation Center
Temporary road for emergency vehicles constructed on the south end of Cooke Hall
Southeast stairwell of University Recreation Center removed (Southwest stairwell will remain functional as an emergency exit)

Sunday, May 15

Parking lot C12 permanently closes

Saturday, May 14

Campus bus routes change due to closure of Washington Avenue
Washington Avenue closes between Pleasant and Walnut for creation of a new transit/pedestrian mall

Wednesday, May 4

Department of Recreational Sports celebrates its groundbreaking ceremony in front of hundreds at the annual appreciation picnic on the south lawn of the University Aquatic Center, the future site of the University Recreation Center expansion.
Indoor Cycling Studio moves from the west end to the east end of the University Recreation Center's south corridor. JE Dunn Construction begins building its staging area for the construction process.

New Features

Spacious Lobby

The University Recreation Center expansion will have a new entrance located toward the southwest corner of the current facility. As patrons enter, they will encounter a warm and inviting atmosphere complete with a full service café, comfortable furniture, digital display screens, and a large fireplace.

Expanded Fitness Center

In addition to the existing fitness centers, the University Recreation Center expansion will provide four tiered levels of state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength training equipment, a lower level free weight area, and several additional cardiovascular and stretching spaces, bringing the total fitness space available on the Minneapolis campus to more than 25,000 square feet.

Center for Outdoor Adventure

The new climbing center at the Center for Outdoor Adventure will feature Eldorado Climbing Wall's High Performance climbing wall surface. The facility will feature a climbing wall spanning up to 33 feet in height with over 3,200 square feet of climbing surface. The climbing center will feature terrain of varied difficulty, over 1,000 square feet of bouldering, numerous top rope climbing anchors and several sport lead climbing lines. There also will be an entrance to the outdoor rental center from the loading dock on Walnut Street. This will allow outdoor adventure patrons to pick-up all of their outdoor equipment rentals in a highly accessible location.

Multipurpose Rooms

Seven different rooms will be utilized for group fitness classes, special events, sport club practices, informational fairs, banquets, presentations, and much more!

Full Service Café

The University Recreation Center expansion will also include the construction of a new café with an expanded menu and improved seating. The café will be located in the lobby area of the new southwest entrance of the University Recreation Center and will be open to the public.

Recreational Sports Office Space

The southwest portion of the expansion project will include three floors of new office space for Recreational Sports full time and student staff. Currently, the Recreational Sports staff on the Minneapolis campus is spread out between three different campus buildings. In addition to having a more centralized office location, there will also be two meeting rooms and a student staff lounge.

Elevated Track

An elevated track will be located on the third level of the University Recreation Center. This 1/9 mile track will allow for patrons to run, jog, and walk with great exterior views of the campus and interior views of the activity spaces below.

Multi Activity Courts

The fourth level of the University Recreation Center expansion will have a multi activity court (MAC) gym and will provide additional programming space for a variety of activities such as soccer, floor hockey, volleyball, basketball, team activities, banquets and more!

Wellness Resource Center

The wellness resource center, located on the main level of the University Recreation Center expansion, will include various wellness amenities such as a wellness information area, a massage studio, a private area for non-invasive health screenings, and a body composition testing room.

Indoor Cycling Studio

A new indoor cycling studio will be located on the lower level of the University Recreation Center. It will have 1,381 square feet of space with tiered platforms of over 30 bikes and a state-of-the-art sound and video system.

Expanded Locker Rooms

There will be additional locker room space added on to the University Recreation Center’s lower level. Lockers will be added to the men’s and women’s locker rooms, increasing the total amount of locker room space to 4,413 square feet.

FAQ

How is this facility being paid for?

This project is being funded by the Recreational Facilities Capital Enhancement Fee which was approved by the Board of Regents in 2008. The fee is being phased in over a 5 year period which began in the Fall of 2008.

When will it be completed?

The expanded University Recreation Center is scheduled to formally open in the Fall of 2013.

How will the University Recreation Center be affected during construction?

The University Recreation Center will remain open during the entire construction process. Inevitably, there will be times in which certain areas of the building may have reduced access due to the construction process. Recreational Sports will do its best to make sure patrons are informed as far in advance as possible.
Additionally, the Light Rail Transit (LRT) construction project will affect the entire campus. For LRT construction updates, visit http://lightrail.umn.edu/.

What is Recreational Sports doing to meet state and national standards for sustainable buildings?

The department is fully committed to maintaining compliance with the State of Minnesota’s Sustainable Building Guidelines (MSBG), which are compatible with national guidelines such as LEED™. The guidelines are a part of the Buildings, Benchmarks & Beyond (B3) Project. Read more about the B3 project here. Sustainable design is a means to reduce energy expenditures, enhance the health, well-being and productivity of the building occupants, and improve the quality of the natural environment. All of these can contribute to better performing buildings with lower life cycle costs. To move toward ensuring these outcomes, the guidelines attempt to quantify the human, community, environmental, and life-cycle economic costs and benefits for each project.

Will the current University Recreation and Wellness Center be improved during the construction process?

Yes! Recreational Sports will be allocating a portion of the construction costs toward upgrading some spaces in the existing University Recreation Center such as the current locker rooms. Other improvements are still being planned and have not yet been confirmed. Check back frequently for updated answers to this question.

Why did the Indoor Cycling Studio move to the other side of the south corridor?

The south corridor’s indoor cycling area was the most logical place for JE Dunn Construction Company to set up its office space. JE Dunn staff will have a secured access point (formerly a fire exit) during the day to allow for improved work flow and a minimized amount of dust and debris in the University Recreation Center during the construction process.

Where did the Goldy statue and Memorial Stadium flagpole go?

Goldy is currently pouting in the corner of our Aquatic Center storage area. He and the Memorial Stadium flagpole will be going back up closer to when the University Recreation Center expansion is being completed in 2013. Goldy will go back to his existing location south of Cooke Hall. The flagpole will be relocated to an area that is yet to be determined (likely somewhere directly south of the new facility expansion).

Why were so many trees removed during the construction process?

University of Minnesota Capital Planning and Project Management has worked closely with University Landcare to relocate and transplant as many trees as possible. Salvageable trees were removed prior to Monday, May 16 and transplanted in various locations around campus. Landcare relocated every viable tree that they could, with the resources they had available, giving preference to those trees which contributed to increased biodiversity on campus. In all, Landcare was able to relocate 19 trees.
The affected areas will receive new landscaping in the Spring of 2013, near the end of construction. Capital Planning and Project Management will be working with Landcare to ensure that the new area compliments the completed University Recreation Center expansion.

Renew Campaign

The University Recreation Center (URC) opened its doors in 1993 and serves between 3,000 and 5,000 patrons on an average weekday during the academic year. Over the past 18 years, the demand for programming and services at the URC has increased—and consequently, so has the demand for space. The URC expansion will help to alleviate the lines at the front desk, the cumbersome sign up process for a treadmill or elliptical, and the confusion of finding a yoga class in Cooke Hall.

But to the staff at Recreational Sports, this project will represent more than just facility improvements. It will help to introduce a renewed sense of excitement, hard work, and dedication on campus. Recreational Sports is committed to helping the university community reconnect with their minds and bodies, refresh their view of a good workout, redevelop their friendships through a cup of coffee, or even remind them why it is so much fun to be on campus. Our goal with this campaign is to help renew your Recreational Sports experience. So what we want to know is...