University of South Alabama Student Recreation Center
Mobile, Ala.
Year in Showcase: 2011
Project Description
Designed to attract students and faculty to an inspiring environment, the student recreation center features a fitness center, group exercise rooms, basketball and racquetball courts, an indoor track, indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, a climbing wall and a juice bar. As the building wraps around a stand of legacy oak trees, the functionally efficient plan creates a single access-control point, beyond which users can enter the outdoor courtyard and pool deck.
A palette of brick, cast stone and wood detailing brings warmth, texture and craftsmanship to the interior environment, while floor-to-ceiling windows allow ample daylight for a bright, fresh atmosphere. Wood detailing features prominently, including in the ceiling structure and in paneling for the indoor pool and weight room.
A double-height, elliptical-shaped feature provides the campus corner site with a landmark identity, its upper windows emitting a lantern-like glow in the evening. The three-court gymnasium and upper-level jogging track allow for nighttime views into the activity areas. The exterior detailing of brick, cast stone and metal roof respects the traditional campus vernacular.
Maximizing its prominent location at a main campus entry, the building preserves existing trees and allows for a spacious central courtyard, as well as a multiuse, landscaped pool area. The building is sited to present a two-story presence along street-side facades, and a more intimate, casual presence in the central courtyard.
Project Details
Architect Of Record: WHLC Architecture; Baton Rouge, La.
Associate Architect: Sasaki Associates Inc. ; Watertown, Mass.
Aquatic Design Engineer: Counsilman-Hunsaker; St. Louis, Mo.
Construction Cost: $33 million
Square Feet: 117,000
Occupancy: August 2010
Vendors
Assessment & Monitoring Equipment: Power Systems
Assessment & Monitoring Equipment: Tanita Corp. Of America
Basketball: Robbins Sports Surfaces
Basketball Backboards/Supports: Performance Sports Systems
Bleachers/Grandstands: Bsn Sports
Cardiovascular Equipment: True Fitness
Chemical Control Systems: Tmi Salt Pure Corporation
Cleaners/Vacuums: Aqua Products
Climbing Walls:
Eldorado Climbing Walls
Court Panels/Glass Walls: The Court Company
Dashers: Sports Systems Inc.
Dehumidifiers: Poolpak International
Divider Curtains: Performance Sports Systems
Dryers: Unimac
Entertainment Systems: Samsung / Nec / Da-Lite
Filtration Systems: Neptune-Benson Inc.
Flooring: Dal-Tile Corp.
Flooring: Tnemec Company Inc.
Flooring, Aerobics: Robbins Sports Surfaces
Flooring, Fitness Center: Interface
Free-Weight Equipment: Troy Barbell & Fitness
Gutters: Grate Technologies
Heaters: Armstrong
Ladders/Grab Bars:
Spectrum Aquatics
Lane Markers: Competitior Swim Products
Lighting: Cooper Lighting
Lockers:
List Industries Inc.
Lockers: Superior
Multipurpose: Robbins Sports Surfaces
Pre-Engineered Structures: Structural Wood Systems
Racquetball/Squash Courts: Robbins Sports Surfaces
Sanitization Systems: Pentair Pool Products
Saunas/Whirlpools: Finlandia/Harvia Sauna Products
Scoreboards/Timing Systems: Daktronics Inc.
Shower/Toilet Partitions: Hadrian Inc.
Sound Systems: Atlas Sound
Strength Equipment: Magnum Fitness Systems
Track: Robbins Sports Surfaces
Volleyball: Robbins Sports Surfaces
Volleyball Nets and Standards: Performance Sports Systems
Wall Padding: Performance Sports Systems
Washers: Unimac
Water Play Features:
Spectrum Aquatics
