Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge is carrying out an expansion that will more than double the space dedicated to student recreation.
The three-phase, $84.75 million project is scheduled to be completed in late 2016 and will add 136,177 square feet to an existing 121,000-square-foot facility.
Phase I added a challenge course and upgraded the campus sports and adventure complex to include four softball fields, eight multipurpose fields, renovated locker rooms, and additional parking. Phase II added parking and tennis courts.
Phase III, which represents the lion’s share of the project, is renovating and expanding the student recreation center. The facility will have an eight-lane indoor lap pool, an eight-lane outdoor lap pool, an outdoor leisure pool and a sun deck.
Indoor recreation spaces will include a 35-foot climbing wall and bouldering area, a gymnasium with five multipurpose courts, another gymnasium with three multipurpose courts and nine courts for racquetball or squash.
The facility will have cardio and weight fitness areas on three floors: 18,391 square feet on the first floor, 18,158 square feet on the second floor and 3,882 square feet on the third floor. Those spaces will have more than 150 pieces of cardio equipment compared with 58 in the existing facility.
Group fitness spaces include a boxing studio, a cycle studio, a mind and body studio, and two movement studios. A fitness assessment center will offer cardiovascular testing, strength testing, movement analysis, flexibility analysis, speed and agility testing, and body composition testing.
Other spaces include a fitness and wellness resource room, a performance training studio, an indoor one-third-mile jogging trail, and locker and changing rooms.