University of Alabama, Birmingham -
Campus Recreation Center
Birmingham, AL
Year in Showcase: 2007
Project Description
The Campus Recreation Center at
the University of Alabama, Birmingham,
is designed to serve as a vibrant
activity hub for the UAB campus community.
The facility is also the cornerstone
of a future campus green,
complementing the urban university’s
commitment to becoming a more traditional,
residential campus. The center
allows existing programs to grow, while
allowing for creation of aquatics, wellness
and informal recreation offerings.
Upon entering the center, sightlines
allow views into virtually every activity
space. The facility boasts 18,000 square
feet dedicated to weight training and
cardio fitness; a four-court, wood-floor
gymnasium; a separate synthetic-floor
gymnasium; five racquetball courts
(with one convertible to squash); four
fitness studios; and an aquatics center
with both leisure and lap components.
Other amenities include a game room,
a child-care area, a juice bar and a
wellness suite.
As one defining architectural feature
of the building, an indoor jogging
track passes through every major
activity space. It penetrates the north
and west facades, affording joggers
views of the surrounding campus
context and even the mountains
bracketing the city to the south. The
second defining architectural element
is a climbing wall, expressed as a
tower at the northwest corner of the
building. Finally, exterior glazing is
employed to reveal activity inside the
building and to animate the campus
surroundings.
Project Details
Architect of Record: Williams Blackstock Architects; Birmingham, Ala.
Associated Firm: Cannon Design - St. Louis, Mo.
Aquatic Design Engineers: Counsilman•Hunsaker - St. Louis, Mo. and
Water Technology Inc. - Beaver Dam, Wis.
Construction Cost: $21.3 million
Square Feet: 152,275
Occupancy: May 2005
Vendors
Basketball Backboards/Supports:
Aalco Manufacturing Co.
Bleachers/Grandstands:
Aalco Manufacturing Co.
Chemical Control Systems:
Siemens Water Technologies
Cleaners/Vacuums:
Aqua Products Inc.
Climbing Walls:
Entre Prises USA Climbing Walls
Court Panels/Glass:
Hollman Inc.
Dashers:
Athletica
Divider Curtains:
Aalco Manufacturing Co.
Elliptical Equipment:
Life Fitness
Free Weight Equipment:
Life Fitness
Group Cycling:
Star Trac
Lane Markers:
Competitor Swim Products
Lockers:
Republic Storage Systems Co.
Saunas/Whirlpools:
Saunatec Inc.
Scoreboards/Timing Systems:
Daktronics Inc.
Stair Climbers:
Life Fitness
Stationary Bikes:
Life Fitness
Surface:
Robbins Sports Surfaces
Surfaces, Multipurpose:
Robbins Sports Surfaces
Surfaces, Track:
Robbins Sports Surfaces
Swimsuit Dryer:
Extractor Corp.
Treadmills:
Life Fitness
Water Play Features:
Vortex Aquatic Structures Int'l Inc.
