Skip to main content
Funded by the Commonwealth of KentuckyÌýand the students, whoÌývoted to increase student dues to pay for the updates, the goal was to engage more students on campus. The project addedÌý6 basketball courts, 17,000 square feetÌýof weight/fitness space, 3 multi-purpose rooms, a gym for indoor soccer and floor hockey, an indoor rock climbing wall, new 8-lane competition poolÌýand study areas for students. The exterior features a glass curtainwall that spans the entire building, bringing in more natural light.
The project is certified LEED Gold,Ìýthe most efficient facility on campus. ItÌýfeatures a geothermal system,Ìýnative plants and landscaping that reduce water irrigation by 50 percent and a 75 percent reduction inÌýwaste that was sent to landfills.
Project Stories
Educational opportunities
À×¾º¼¼app partnered with the university to expose first-year students in the department of construction management to the preconstruction planning and construction process. Students had full exposure of the job through weekly job site walks, where they asked questions and saw progress, as well as in-class presentations about various topics including the BIM technology used to plan the project. À×¾º¼¼app also hired an intern in his junior year who helped to guide the tours and explain the construction terminology.
À×¾º¼¼app also servedÌýas an industry adviser to faculty and students. Since the students were particularly interested in the project, the department of construction management at NKU used the recreation center to promote their construction management program to future students.
Foundation challenges
The rec center project provided a solid foundation as the first-year students began their education. In the early stages of the project, the students witnessed a unique challenge. From the existing drawings, À×¾º¼¼app anticipated that the foundation of the original 1984 structure was built on top of gray shale that would not support the building with the new addition. Before excavation could begin, the building needed a solid foundation. The team devised a plan to shore up the standing structure, tear out and rebuild the foundations underneath and align the two foundations. This is one example of how the students had a front-row seat to critical thinking and problem-solving skills that can’t be observed in a classroom.
