College campuses in the Big 12 conference are booming with construction and improvement of their recreational facilities. Despite a lagging economy in recent years, students at the University of Kansas, the University of Colorado, Kansas State University and others have voted to increase student fees to renovate their recreation centers. According to the Kerr & Downs Research Report, an estimated 400 indoor and 318 outdoor recreational facilities will be built for an estimated $4.9 billion.

The cost of building a recreation complex has gone from $2 million to $49 million in the past 20 years, with the majority of the facilities costing an average of $4.9 million, according to the report. Student recreation centers provide students with a retreat from the stress of school and provide universities with a marketable asset to prospective students.

Yearly student fees for recreational facilities

1. Missouri $256

2. Nebraska $217

3. Texas A&M $196

4. Colorado $194

5. Texas $185

6. OSU $159

7. Baylor $150

8. OU $142

9. Kansas $126

10. Texas Tech $120

11. Iowa State $90

12. K-State $75

University of Kansas

Enrollment: 30,102 students

• Opened in 2003: $23 million

• Expansion in 2008: $6.3 million

• 145,000 square feet

• Climbing wall: 42 feet high

• Weights/fitness area: 15,000 square feet

• 1/4-mile track

• Six multipurpose courts

• Five racquetball courts

• Two courts for indoor soccer/hockey, dodgeball and cricket

• Virtual golf simulator

• Martial arts studio

• Table tennis

University of Texas: RecSports Facilities

Enrollment: 50,006 students

• 10 fitness and sports facilities on and off campus totaling more than 500,000 square feet

Anna Hiss Gym

• Opened in 1931: $400,000, renovation in 1994

• Archery range

• Exercise rooms

• 1/2-court basketball

gymnasium

• Dance studio

Bellmont Hall

• Opened in 1972

• Martial arts room

• Multipurpose rooms

• Three squash courts

• Exercise area with weight/conditioning equipment

• Steam rooms

Gregory Gymnasium

• Built in 1930: $500,000

• Renovated in 1962

• Renovated in 1997: $26.3 million

• Seven multipurpose courts

• 1/7th-mile track

• 10 racquetball courts

• Two international size squash courts

• Weight training/conditioning room

• Separate faculty/staff weight training/conditioning room

• Climbing wall

• Multipurpose rooms

• Billiards/game room with big screen TV

• Badminton

• Table tennis

• Sports Café

• Cardio theater

• Outdoor and wellness resource centers

• Retail store

• Steam and sauna rooms

• Separate faculty/staff locker rooms

• Aquatic complex: 1000 sq. ft.

• Opened 2005

• Heated outdoor lap pool

• Heated outdoor leisure pool

• Heated outdoor event pool

• Heated spa

• Poolside café

Recreational Sports Center

120,000 square feet

• Opened in 1990

• Three multipurpose courts

• Eight racquetball courts

• Two international size squash courts

• Weight/conditioning rooms

• Exercise lounge

• Multipurpose rooms

• Aerobic/dance rooms

• Table tennis

• Lounge areas

• Big screen TV

Texas Tech University: Robert H. Ewalt Student Recreation Center

Enrollment: 28,422 students

• Opened about 1977

• $10 million

• 242,000 square feet

• Eight multipurpose courts

• Weights/fitness area: 6,530 square foot

• Speed bag room

• Aerobics/dance studios

• Large mat room

• 12 racquetball/handball courts

• One squash court

• 1/8-mile track

• Locker rooms with classrooms

Baylor University: McLane Student Life Center

Enrollment: 14,000

• Opened in 1999

• $21 million

• 156,000 square feet

• Weight/fitness area: 10,000 square feet

• Massage therapy

• Climbing rock: 52 feet high

• Aquatic center

• 1/9-mile track

• Four multipurpose indoor courts

• Aerobics room: 2,400 square feet

• Martial arts training room

• Seven racquetball courts

• One squash court

• Three conference rooms

• Two outdoor sand volleyball courts

• One outdoor basketball court

• Locker rooms

University of Oklahoma: Huston Huffman Center

Enrollment: 30,447 students

• Opened in 1992, 2003 addition: $9.2 million

• 111,000 square feet

• Weights/fitness area

• Climbing wall

• Cardio room

• 1/6-mile track

• Eight multipurpose courts

• Swimming pool

Oklahoma State University: Colvin Recreation Center

Enrollment: 32,402

• $23 million

• Opened in 1969, remodeled 2004

• 240,000 square feet

• 10 multipurpose courts

• 12 racquetball courts

• Track

• Weights/fitness area: 9,500 square feet

• Cardio theater: 3,000 square feet

• Dance studios: 5,500 square feet

• Multipurpose rooms: 4,500 square feet

• Swimming pool

• Climbing wall: 35 feet high and 150 square feet

• Three practice golf nets

• Four-hole putting green

• Two golf simulators

• Locker rooms

• Four outdoor sand volleyball courts

Texas A&M University: Student Recreation Center

Enrollment: 47,925 students

• $36.4 million

• 286,000 square feet

• Opened in October 1995

• Weight/fitness rooms: 14,000 square feet

• Indoor climbing facility, 44 feet high and 3,500 square feet

• 1/4-mile track

• 14 handball/racquetball/squash courts

• Four dance/activity rooms

• Four multipurpose courts

• Two indoor soccer courts

• Swimming pool, two spas

• Outdoor activity area (volleyball and basketball courts)

• Outdoor resort-style outdoor pool and spa

• Archery room

University of Colorado at Boulder

Enrollment: 53,755 students

• Opened in 1973

• 1990 expansion: $8 million

• 215,000 square feet

• Climbing wall: 2,000 square feet

• Swimming pool with two satellite pools

• Ice arena

• Three basketball courts

• Weights/fitness area

• Seven racquetball courts

• One racquetball court

• Eight outdoor tennis courts

• 1/10-mile track

• Combative room

• Dance/Aerobics studio

• Children’s center

• Locker rooms with saunas

University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Sapp Campus Recreation center

Enrollment: 22,973 students

• Opened in 1987

• $14.9 million

• Climbing wall

• Eight multipurpose courts

• 11 racquetball courts

• Swimming pool

• Weights/fitness area: 8,300 square feet

• Massage therapy

• Track

• Combative arts room

• Locker rooms

• “Outstanding Sports Facility” designation from the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association

Kansas State University: Chester E. Peters Recreation Complex

Enrollment: 23,520 students

• Opened in 1976

• 1991 expansion: $6.3 million

• 240,000 square feet

• Weight/fitness area: 10,000 square feet

• 14 handball/racquetball courts

• Two squash courts

• Two wallyball courts

• Three gyms that include 10 basketball courts

• Aerobic/multipurpose room

• Two running tracks, 1/8-mile and 1/14-mile

• Locker rooms with saunas

• Table Tennis

• Video lounge

• Ahearn Natatorium

University of Missouri-Columbia: MizzouRec Student Recreation Complex

Enrollment: 29,761 students

• Original buildings built up to 100 years ago

• 2005 expansion: $50 million

• 300,000 square feet, multiple connected buildings

• Scroggs Peak: 42-foot high climbing tower

• 1/6-mile track

• Weights/fitness area

• Four racquetball courts

• One squash court

• Aquatic Center

• Aerobics studios

• Red Hall Beverage Co.

• Locker rooms

• Snack bar

• Boutique-style student services

— - Edited by Kelsey Hayes