Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, State Sen. Judith Zaffirini and Texas A&M University System Chancellor Michael D. McKinney joined students, faculty, staff and alumni in the dedication of new Kinesiology, Wellness and Recreation Center Monday, Sept. 24.
The group also broke ground for the new Student Success Center.
The 47,973 square-foot Wellness and Recreation Center was funded by $12.5 million in tuition revenue bond proceeds and is part of the university’s Phase V construction. It was made possible by a tuition bond authorized in the 78th Texas Legislative Session through the leadership of Zaffirini and Dewhurst.
Dr. Keck said the new wellness facility, which serves as an expansion of the existing Kinesiology-Convocation Building, will provide students, staff and faculty new opportunities for sports, physical training and recreation.
“As our student population grows, so does the need for a facility that accommodates an expanded range of activities that help strengthen and nourish both the mind and body,” Keck said. “The Kinesiology, Wellness and Recreation Center will allow us to fulfill that need.”
The new center includes an impressive array of activity rooms, as well as classrooms, a kinesiology-testing lab, cardio and circuit training area, free weight area, locker rooms, basketball courts and faculty and staff offices.
F&S Partners of Dallas served as building architects while Zachry Construction of San Antonio handled construction.
After the ribbon-cutting, Dewhurst and other officials broke ground for the new Student Success Center, funded by a $25 million tuition revenue bond and scheduled for completion in summer 2010.
The Student Success Center will house a wide array of student services including admission, retention, financial aid, scholarship access, testing, First Year Success Programs and special student programs.
The project architects are PBS & J of Austin.
The center is considered crucial to the university’s continued enrollment growth since it focuses on recruitment and retention efforts.
Dewhurst and Zaffirini will also take part in a special luncheon at the university to recognize student recipients of the Mr. South Texas Scholarship and their families.