Hey there Rec’ing Rams! If you’ve been following us recently, you will know that we have many changes being made inside of the Rec before the semester begins. Curious about what’s going on? I sat down with the director of facilities for Campus Recreation, Tyson Kehler, to better understand the need for the current closures.

For most of the summer, students have been entering the Rec through the side entrance due to construction in the lobby areas. What you may not know is that we are installing new turnstiles next to the service center. Kehler stated that the project is “designed to increase the efficiency and security of the service center by separating the business function from the patron check-in.” This change will make it so patrons can self-check-in rather than swipe in with the service center staff.

Additional digital signage will be added to the area alongside a built-in carpet at the main entrance to the building.

The project, however, will not be completed until the end of phase two. In this final phase, the Rec will completely re-design the service center, and aims to begin the second phase near the end of the fiscal year 2023.

The annual closure for maintenance of the facilities also falls during this current construction. Specifically, this time will be used to prepare the aquatics center for the upcoming year by swapping out filters and power washing the pool, among other regular preventative practices. Kehler emphasized that this benefits patrons by ensuring the longevity of aquatics equipment and maintaining the space’s cosmetic appeal.

The service center area and aquatics facility will be available again on the 18th of August, just in time for our annual event, Night @ the Rec.

We hope to see you back in the Rec soon; take care, Rec’ing Rams!