The redesigned Student Life Center, featuring an expanded and updated Center for Healthy Living, is on track to be completed next summer.
Who’s moved where?
The new redesign and ongoing construction has led to some changes at the Student Life Center. Moves include:
- The UNMC Department of Compliance and Legal Services, formerly on the second level, has been relocated to the College of Nursing building, fifth floor.
- Some existing Student Services staff members have been permanently relocated from their original office space on the second level to the southeast corner of the existing building (same level). Other staff from Student Services have moved temporarily to the third floor in the east part of the building.
- The Center for Healthy Living fitness coordinator and intramural coordinator have temporarily moved into the gym. The massage therapist is temporarily moved to the administration area.
- The Office of Financial Aid will eventually move to renovated offices within the Student Life Center as the second phase of construction advances.
UNMC Project Manager Tod Ringenberg said that the project is proceeding well.
The new 4,850-square-foot, one-level glass-enclosed addition will be on the north side of the existing Student Life Center and will primarily house cardio equipment such as treadmills, exercise bikes and ellipticals. The overall wellness experience will be enhanced via new exercise equipment, numerous TV monitors, Internet connectivity and numerous new fitness classes.
The two-phase renovation portion of the project is extensive and will include the former fitness area, exercise classrooms and locker rooms. Included will be spacious new locker rooms, with considerably more private showers and lockers, as well as other amenities. Once completed, the Center for Healthy Living fitness areas will more than double in size, not including the gym.
“The new fitness center will function as a two-level operation. The front door will be on the northwest corner of the new addition,” Ringenberg said.
Access from the lower level will no longer be available. Facility users will check in at the main Control Desk and either go to the cardio or weight training areas or go down to the lower level to the new multipurpose activity area, group exercise rooms, locker rooms or the gym. Included as part of the project is a new state-of-the art resilient floor system for the basketball and track areas of the gym.
As part of the second phase, the existing student Financial Aid area will be renovated to include a new student lounge, conference/computer room, vending machines and a student study room. When completed, the entire building also will include fire sprinkler and new fire protection systems.
Nearly all of the utilities that serve the building are being rerouted, as well.
Ringenberg is enthusiastic about progress on the project.
“The new and renovated space in the Student Life Center will enhance the student experience on campus,” he said. “It is going to be a wonderful addition to campus.”
Very excited for the upgrades!
Very exciting! Great addition to campus. A big thanks to everyone who has worked very hard to make this a reality.