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Recreation Hall Wrestling & Student Fitness Center
PROJECT OVERVIEW - VISION & PROCESS Recreation Hall is a historic gymnasium building on the west side of the campus of The Pennsylvania State University. Until the 1990s, Rec Hall, and its series of additions, served as home to many of Penn State’s major indoor varsity sports programs, including basketball and wrestling. With the opening of the Bryce Jordan Center, basketball relocated to the new venue, and wrestling continued to practice, train, and compete in Rec Hall. The site is located between Burrowes Street and Atherton Street on the east and west, and Noll Laboratory to the south. The Pennsylvania State University desired to renovate the wrestling and associated support spaces in Rec Hall to improve the functionality, quality and character of the facilities. The wrestling program, with its many team appearances in the NCAA tournament, and numerous individual national champion wrestlers, has a history and tradition that is the equal to the best programs in intercollegiate sports. This renovation was intended to elevate the function and character of the facilities to more effectively recruit talented athletes, generate greater financial support, and raise the overall profile of the program. Secondly, the fitness boom of the past two decades has reached its crescendo at Penn State and generated the need for additional fitness facilities across the campus. Currently, Penn State’s largest, and highest profile student fitness facility is located in the White Building, in the south-center of campus. Penn State desired to build a new fitness facility on the west side of campus, as an addition to Rec Hall. The new fitness facility has a “club” atmosphere in a campus setting. The character of the space enhances the training experience, and serves as a recruiting tool for the University in attracting top-level students. This addition addresses the campus edge along Atherton Street. The University desired to create a building that makes a high-profile, highly transparent visual impact when viewed from Atherton Street. It was also key to improve the sense of entry to Rec Hall from both the campus side of the building and the Atherton/west campus side. To begin this process, Kimball held a strategic design workshop to verify the goals and project parameters. Through this workshop and subsequent user interviews, several fundamental goals emerged for the project. They are:
DESIGN SOLUTION - THE BUILDING AS A CONNECTOR Kimball’s design solution meets the goal of connecting the campus from the east and west. The design provides for two distinct and prominent entrances. The Atherton entrance is formed by a gateway and forecourt that is integral to the new façade design. On the Burrowes side of the site, a new entrance marker, trellis and pergola guide the visitor along a path to the building entrance. Both sides, though different, relate to one another architecturally to tie the composition together. These two entrances meet in a newly-created, two-story atrium tying the campus together and clarifying way-finding issues inside of Rec Hall. This new space provides not only for circulation space, but also will function as a place for chance encounters and a meeting spot for students, faculty and visitors to the facility. A new monumental stair serves as a primary design feature and guides visitors to the competition space, auxiliary gym and others functions that previously were hard to find. Additionally, a new pedestrian way is created between Noll Lab and Rec Hall that improves cross campus circulation and enhances the primary entrance to the Lab. ATHERTON STREET FAÇADE - CHANGING THE FACE OF REC HALL The facade of the original Rec Hall faced Burrowes and was a very recognizable part of the campus fabric. However, the building, as designed, turned its back to Atherton Street, which has now become a major face of the University. Similarly, the previous additions to Rec Hall were nondescript windowless masses recessed from the street. This condition did not present an appropriate image for Penn State. The new design is a dynamic volume that is sheathed in layered glass, brick and metal. The articulation of the façade successfully integrates the addition into the existing context – drawing cues from the IST Building and pulling in elements from Rec Hall – blending high-tech materials with traditional ones. The location of the addition on Atherton now allows a new bright face for Penn State to speak to the community and to visitors alike. The glass façade will be a shining beacon for the campus for many years to come. WRESTLING COMPONENT - CREATING THE WOW FACTOR The wrestling components are located on two levels of the building. The primary wrestling training spaces occur directly behind the fitness center and adjacent to the new atrium on the ground floor. The wrestling locker room and training room are located on the second level of the building in relatively the same location as the current locker room. The design created a dedicated wrestling complex, which heretofore did not exist. A new entrance to this complex was provided that announces to recruits and players alike that you have “Entered the Wrestling Zone!” After crossing this threshold, visitors are greeted by a “Walk of Honor,” which showcases the legacy of wrestling at Penn State University. Next, the visitor enters the new wrestling training room which is over two times the size of the current facility. Four wrestling areas are situated in the space and are surrounded by an environment that is bright and exciting, yet a serious athletic training facility. The space includes a recruiting lounge, spectator seating, a state-of-the-art sound system and a nearly 5,000 SF strength training facility. The locker rooms and player lounge were increased by nearly 40% and are open and full of natural light. The locker room has custom wood lockers, a logoed carpet design and a high-bay, light-filled curved ceiling. The lounge will provide for social interaction, study time, and a large screen TV. The shower facilities have been vastly improved in quality and size. The net result, as described, demonstrates an appropriate level of attention to the storied wrestling program, helps to increase recruiting and fundraising and will provide for a benchmark facility in the Big Ten. FITNESS CENTER COMPONENT - ATTRACTING STUDENTS & CREATING QUALITY OF LIFE The interior of the fitness center is indeed “club-like” and rivals the best the private, or collegiate, sector can offer. Visitors enter the club from the atrium space and are greeted by an elliptical reception desk which relates to the curving, asymmetrical nature of the façade. Guests naturally flow to a two-story fitness center, which contains a monumental stair. The main two-story space, with its exposed roof structure, is filled with light from the glass façade on Atherton and features two large modular jumbo TVs that add a “Nike Town” feel to the space. The space was designed to be a high-tech, rugged environment creating a seamless experience that merges the array of machinery with the space itself. Additionally, the main floor provides ample space for stretching and weight training. The monumental stair leads the visitor to the mezzanine level where cardio equipment is featured. This space has a tremendous view of the west campus thanks to the curved glass wall on Atherton. In addition, it remains visually tied to the space below while creating a perceived sense of privacy. The entire facility includes state-of-the-art equipment, sound systems and video displays. The finishes are durable, exciting and relate to those chosen for the wrestling component. Project Description:
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