Saint Martin's University opens new Recreation and Fitness Center

November 20, 2009

Lacey, Washington — On Monday, November 23, Saint Martin’s University will open the doors to its new recreation and fitness center. This 36,000-square foot facility will provide a place where students can play pick-up basketball or volleyball games, take a yoga class, or work out with weights or on a cardio machine. The facility will also be used for organized sports such as intramural games and some intercollegiate team practices and fitness.

The new building, located just behind the Hal and Inge Marcus Pavilion, has three multi-purpose courts, a multi-lane running track, a batting cage, and a 9,000-square foot fitness center equipped with weights, cardio equipment, a multi-purpose classroom, and an aerobics-dance studio. This is the first facility dedicated to student fitness since the Marcus Pavilion opened in the 1960s.

"The entire campus community is excited about this facility," commented Roy Heyndrickx, the University's president. "Our students want places to exercise, play sports, and hang out. This new center gives them a place to do that."

The concept for the Recreation and Fitness Center grew out of a strategic vision that called for creating a stronger student life program especially for residential students. Saint Martin's engaged Mountain Construction and Helix Design to design and construct the facility.

“The students are extremely excited for the recreation center,” said Ahmadou Seck, president of the Associated Students of Saint Martin’s University. Seck said that access for all students to exercise facilities and equipment outside of team sports was very important.

The Recreation and Fitness Center is one of several projects made possible by the generous contributors to the “A Winning Spirit Campaign” which has raised $5.3 million toward new campus recreation and athletic facilities. Earlier this year, Saint Martin's opened a new track and field facility as well.

"Saint Martin's is very grateful to its supporters who have made these new facilities a reality," President Heynderickx said. "They have helped the University make a major step forward in offering the best in a Catholic, Benedictine education."

For more information about this ongoing campaign, including how to contribute, contact Stephen McGlone 360-438-4586 or smcglone@stmartin.edu.

Saint Martin’s University is an independent four-year, Catholic, coeducational university located on a 380-acre wooded campus in Lacey, Washington. Established in 1895 by the Catholic Order of Saint Benedict, the University is one of 18 Benedictine colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and the only one west of the Rocky Mountains. Saint Martin’s University prepares students for successful lives through its 21 majors and six graduate programs spanning the liberal arts, business, education and engineering. Saint Martin’s welcomes 1,250 students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds to its main campus, and 650 more to its five extension campuses located at Fort Lewis Army Post, McChord Air Force Base, Olympic College, Centralia College, and Tacoma Community College.

For additional information:

Genevieve Canceko Chan
Director of Communications & Marketing
360-438-4332
gchan@stmartin.edu
www.stmartin.edu