It is a little after 9 a.m. Monday. The “Cardio Canyon” is already beginning to pulsate with the whirl of treadmills and elliptical machines. Backpacks are lined against the wall on the basketball courts as day camp kids engage in various games.
The transition from Larkins Hall to the Recreation and Physical Activity Center has been a major undertaking.
“Students, faculty and the community are already reaping the benefits and the final phase has yet to open,” said Diane Jensen, associate director of the department of recreational and intramural sports.
The efforts to create a better facility began with a feasibility test in 1996 and moved into the construction phase in 2003, Jensen said.
The architecture was a collaboration between world-renowned design architect, Antoine Predock, based in New Mexico, and the executive architect, Curt Moody, of Moody-Nolan Inc. Moody is also responsible for the design of the Schottenstein Center and Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Jensen said the $154 million project was supposed to be a renovation and new addition, however the original 1931 portion of Larkins Hall would have been difficult and expensive to save.
According to OSU’s Web site, the open portions of the RPAC include the main recreation center, the McCorkle Aquatic Pavillion.
Erik Riha, spokeswoman, said this includes, but is not limited to, several cardio and free weight areas, basketball courts, the Student Wellness Center, recreation pools and areas for relaxation and studying.
The final phase will include offices, classrooms and labs for the physical activity and educational services department as well as two more full-court gyms, four squash courts and putting greens, said Jensen. The entire project is slated for completion in January 2007, with the activities section opening immediately. The PAES department will begin its transition into the facility during spring break.
“It’s on schedule,” Riha said. “Keep your fingers crossed.”
Despite only being partially open, the RPAC is becoming a staple of university and student life.
According to statistics provided by Kris Myers, director of member services, about 72 percent of undergraduate students used portions of the RPAC between September 2005 and May 2006. Similarly, about 70 percent of professionals students and 49 percent of graduate students also used the facilities, which exclude the ARC from its totals.
This made for an average of 6,307 BuckID swipes per day with Monday through Thursday being the busiest days.
Jensen, who said the facility is open 365 days a year, was surprised to find that several hundred individuals utilized the RPAC, even on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The RPAC is also seen as a jewel among collegiate recreation centers and to incoming and prospective students.
Jensen said Big Ten colleagues are impressed. She said that the University of Illinois is building its own recreational facility and is pushing to match pace with OSU.
Riha said the RPAC is used for evening activities during new students’ summer orientation. They have the opportunity to visit the facility with their parents and utilize what it has to offer.
“The comments we’ve heard have been nothing but positive,” Riha said. “People love it.”
