Pitt Opens New 270,000-Square-Foot Wellness Center
The University of Pittsburgh officially opened its new 270,000-plus-square-foot Recreation and Wellness Center to students on Sunday. The much-anticipated facility, shaped by student feedback and grounded in sustainability and holistic well-being, will serve as a vibrant hub for recreation, health and community connection on the Pittsburgh campus.
With nine stories of state-of-the-art features — including an aquatics center, an indoor sky track, courts, weight and cardio zones, a climbing wall, an esports lounge and wellness suites — the new center is more than a building. It’s a reflection of Pitt students’ evolving needs and priorities.
“We’re so excited to open the new Recreation and Wellness Center for students,” Vice Provost for Student Affairs Carla Panzella said. “Building a new recreation center gave us the opportunity to reimagine recreation by integrating holistic wellness. This facility reflects our understanding that student success depends on comprehensive well-being.”
Columbus State Breaks Ground on $3.2M Golf Facility
On Thursday, Jan. 8, Columbus State University teed off on a new era for its Golf Program, breaking ground on a new clubhouse. When fully funded, this $3.2 million, 6,447-square-foot clubhouse will enhance the existing Key Golf Studio by adding championship-caliber indoor practice technology and outdoor playing surfaces—additions that coaches will help boost team competitiveness and bolster student-athlete recruitment and retention.
Although the existing Key Golf Studio has offered student-athletes top-tier practice surfaces since 2015, Director of Athletics Justin Hay highlighted that the absence of clubhouse facilities there now hampers the program’s ability to stay competitive with the nation’s leading NCAA Division II programs.
“The stakes have never been higher when it comes to recruiting and retaining the world’s top college golfers,” Hay said, citing it as CSU Athletics’ first major capital project since 2016. “We must offer the best student-athlete experience—and that means giving our golfers access to top-notch facilities and the means to winning conference and national titles. Once finished, this new clubhouse will be one of the top golf facilities at any level in the country, raising Columbus State Golf to new heights of excellence.”
Santa Barbara to Get Premier Pickleball Facility
Empty since the summer of 2023, the former Bed Bath & Beyond store in the Fairview Shopping Center will soon be home to a state-of-the-art pickleball facility with seven indoor courts and a host of amenities such as locker rooms, fitness equipment, ball machines, and a community lounge.
Already under construction, The Picklr Santa Barbara will be part of The Picklr network, a collection of 500 clubs across North America. The location is slated to open in the spring of 2026 and will operate seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight.
“The Picklr Santa Barbara is going to be an amazing venue for players of all levels, from total beginners to serious players, said owner Ted Guggenheim. “We’re committed to creating a welcoming, world-class facility that appeals to the entire community with tons of different programming, events, and coaching for every level.”
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