A new UMass Recreation Center will be located in the vicinity of Hicks Way and Commonwealth Avenue. The three-level, 120,000 square foot building will include:

• Weight & fitness area spanning two of the three building floors
• Associated locker and toilet facilities
• Three-court gym that is dividable
• Three multipurpose rooms
• A juice bar and lounge space
• New administration offices

There has been a special effort made to weave the new Recreation Center into the campus fabric in a way that improves vehicular and pedestrian circulation and cross traffic as well as provides some topography changes that aid handicap accessibility requirements. One primary objective was to establish a spine that connects the campus center/library core with the west side of campus and the Mullins Center.

The $50 million structure was designed by Sasaki Associates of Boston. Construction will begin immediately following the 2007 Commencement with a completion target in the fall of 2008; final commissioning and occupancy will take place in the spring of 2009.