The standard of wellness at San Diego State University continues to evolve with the new Aztec Recreation Center (ARC). The Aztec concept of wellbeing expands beyond the traditionally physical to also encompass social, emotional, occupational, multicultural, environmental, spiritual, and intellectual aspects of student and community life. By facilitating this holistic and balanced approach to health among a diverse student body, the act of learning moves beyond the confines of a seminar room and into the spaces shared communally. Education and growth happen everywhere.

“A new student union” for this part of campus, the ARC incorporates lounges and spaces for socializing, relaxing, and studying both inside and throughout the adjacent outdoor plaza. The ARC is organized around a climbing courtyard and a central spine called “The Canyon.” This spine infuses the building with daylight and fresh air. Fitness programs surround the climbing courtyard. The courtyard is connected physically and visually to the Plaza by the spine.

The renovation/expansion project hopes to achieve LEED Platinum Certification for new construction and for Building Operations & Maintenance.

Texas A&M University (College Station, TX) has the largest student body in the State of Texas, and one of the largest in the country, with more than 69,000 students enrolled at its flagship campus. Understanding its need for expanded recreation services, the University selected SmithGroup to design a new satellite recreation facility, known as South Campus Recreation Center.

The facility will feature strength and conditioning areas, multi-purpose courts, a bouldering wall, group exercise studios, administrative areas, and food service space. To provide the highest efficiency of use for the campus community, the existing natural turf fields will be replaced with one synthetic turf field, dugouts and a restroom/storage/rental facility. The addition of synthetic turf, along with adapted field lighting, will extend the length of seasonal play on the field. This allows additional intramural and club sports programs to be scheduled by the University’s RecSports department.

The University of Houston Downtown (UHD) has boldly envisioned a new hub for student wellness and success in support of its diverse and growing student population. This hub is the next step in creating a dynamic campus core just north of downtown Houston—one of the nation’s most culturally diverse metropolitan areas.
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The facility provides a variety of recreational amenities, such as multi-purpose courts, a strength and conditioning area, cardio and functional fitness areas, group fitness studios, and an elevated track. Additionally, the building features a private wellness suite with a food pantry, nutrition demonstration kitchen, and student lounge space critical to building community on this largely commuter campus.

The modest 38,000 sf building is the first recreation facility for the growing campus of 4,500 students and will provide opportunities for students to learn and develop lifelong habits of fitness, health, and overall well-being.  The walk-in health clinic, operated by a third-party vendor, DeTar Healthcare System, will be strategically located on campus to serve students, faculty, and the general public.

The facility will simultaneously serve both a limited campus population while being open to all, fusing the clinic and recreation sports components together with a light-filled entry and engagement volume.  The lobby fronts a conjoined pair of recreation fitness studios that flex to host health education classes and community engagement events.

The project requires the demolition of an existing single-story structure nearing the end of its useful life in a prime location on campus. In its place, the new Student Union and Recreation Center will provide a significant design opportunity to re-imagine circulation of the West O Street corridor, creating a new vibrant hub for student life, known as the Tech Plaza.