The revamped University of California, Riverside Student Recreation Center is a hub of positive energy, strengthening culture and promoting health and wellness across campus. Beyond recharging its recreation programs, UCR also sought a powerful campus icon that could become a destination space for the university. The renovated and expanded recreation facility achieves this by creating a meaningful connection to the existing building, characterized by a robust second floor “bridge,” and a covered breezeway that connects the building’s entry lobbies and serves as a gateway to the existing arena entrance.
The new facility is tangible evidence of UCR’s commitment to student wellness, driving key synergies across recreation, intramurals, student health services, counseling, housing, dining and other student resources, while boasting key features such as a striking swimming pool, a bouldering wall, an elevated jogging track, a 21,000-square-foot weight training area, expanded space for fitness classes and an open MAC gym.Â
The smaller ground floor, generously shaded by the large upper level and clad in UC Riverside’s blend of brick, is characterized by an open, glazed fitness area loosely defined by the enclosed masonry volumes of the MAC gym and a circular locker room. An array of shading strategies employed in various combinations and proportions provide sun protection for all regions of the second floor’s curvilinear facade.Â
