The $6.3 million David A. Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center, originally slated to open in May 2008, is near completion. The 45,000-square-foot addition to the Student Recreation Fitness Center will provide students with a virtual golf simulator, martial arts studio, four gymnasium courts, an extension of the indoor track and two racquetball courts.

The Ambler Center, which was named in honor of David A. Ambler, vice chancellor emeritus for student affairs who is now retired, is scheduled for dedication at 3 p.m. on Oct. 24. Construction began in May 2007 and was projected to be complete by May 2008.

Mary Chappell, director of recreation services, said the project was delayed because a product that prevented moisture from entering the building was not applied to the walls where the two buildings — the addition and the existing recreation center — meet. She also said that rainy weather had a significant effect on construction because the Ambler Center was located in a valley and that the brick exterior was applied incorrectly.

“We just started having delays and missing target days,” Chappell said. “Just numerous delays on and on and on.”

Although construction is nearly complete, some of the inside is still in the works. Chappell said she didn’t think the gymnasium courts, which are made of synthetic wood, would be completed by the dedication ceremony. She said the contractor was still in the process of pouring the synthetic courts and that the courts would have to be cured, varnished and painted.

“Our anticipation is when we cut the ribbon we won’t be able to bounce balls on the court,” Chappell said.

She said the Ambler Center’s features were determined by a consultant who talked to different parties such as the Athletics Department, Recreation Services, and Health, Sports and Exercise Sciences to see what they wanted in a recreation center addition.

The synthetic wood courts will have a dasher board system, similar to walls of an ice hockey rink, which would frame the court and prevent balls from bouncing away. Chappell said the boards would provide more space and give students more flexibility for the types of sports and games they could play on the courts.

The center also has a virtual golf simulator, allowing students to go to the driving range without going outdoors. Chappell said the golf simulator was popular at other schools and would be a fun option for students especially during the cold months.

“It’s not as intimidating as going to a full-fledged golf course,” Chappell said.

Though the Ambler Center brings several new options for student workouts, it does not include an aquatic center.

Adam McGonigle, Wichita junior and student body president, said Student Senate contracted a St. Louis-based aquatics planning and engineering firm, Counsilman-Hunsaker, to create several proposals for another recreation center expansion project. A new aquatic center was one of the platforms McGonigle was elected on last spring, but he said there were no formal plans for building an aquatic center yet.

He said once Senate received proposals from the design firm, he and Michael Gillaspie, Ashland senior and student body vice president, would bring the proposals to student focus groups to evaluate what students wanted.

David Ambler spearheaded many efforts to improve student success at the University during his 25 years as vice chancellor for student affairs, including the $17-million Student Recreation Fitness Center, which is operated by student fees.

Ambler attributed all improvements of campus programs to students who he said were committed to enhancing the University, even when they didn’t personally benefit. He said his job was to help students who wanted to improve campus life with projects such as the recreation center.

“The naming of this building is not really about Dave Ambler,” Ambler said. “It’s about the incredible dedication, loyalty and commitment that student leaders have made to the University over the years.”

— — Edited by Brenna Hawley