Bowling Green State
University took a step forward Thursday toward giving its Student Recreation Center a
major overhaul.Trustees approved $819,563 for design and pre-construction services for a
proposed $11 million renovation to the facility.BGSU Chief Financial Officer Sheri Stoll
told the trustees that when the Student Recreation Center was built in 1979 "it was
considered a state of the art facility in Ohio."However, with the exception of some
"modest work" to the rec center including adding air-conditioning and
replacing the pool filtration system about 11 years go, "no major renovations have
been performed since the facility opened," Stoll said.And for college students, a
recreation center can be a deciding factor in choosing which university to attend, she
said."Rather than serving as a positive recruiting tool, the Rec Center represents
a dated and undesirable liability to Bowling Green State University," Stoll wrote
in her report to the board.As a result, BGSU has completed a feasibility study which
evaluated revitalizing the space. The study, Stoll said, focused on site and building
access, parking, amenities, interior and exterior styling and aesthetics,
reconfiguration of indoor spaces, outdoor programming and storage space, administrative
space, energy efficiency and the condition and attractiveness of the building’s
exterior.An architectural firm worked with an internal committee to come up with three
design concepts. The three different plans called for renovations totaling $6, $9 or $12
million.Under the $6 million plan, the rec center would have a mezzanine addition
constructed, a front entry addition and first floor renovation, exterior improvement,
access improvement and skylights over the fitness area.The $9 million plan called for
all of the above plus modernizing the gym area as well as office upgrades and locker
room renovations.The top-level plan would have all of the above improvement plus better
seating by the pool, additional parking and roof improvement."Based on what we are
seeing at this point, we are leaning toward going in the $11 million range," Stoll
told the trustees.The proposed $11 million renovations would include: a new entrance,
expansion of the mezzanine for additional cardio training, upgrades to the gym area,
reconfigured locker room space to create additional area for event programming,
conversion of unused racquetball courts to staff offices, additional storage space and
upgraded finishes and lighting.Trustees only approved the design and pre-construction
services on Thursday. Stoll said a detailed project proposal would be brought back
before them at a later date.