The University Recreation Center (Registered under LEED as the EWU Student Sport and Recreation Center) is Eastern Washington University's new million multipurpose recreation facility. The site originally had single-story married student housing circa 1960 and parking lots which were deconstructed and recycled to make way for the new Center. The programmed spaces include a 3-court gymnasium with elevated running track, over 15,000 square feet of strength training area and cardio area, 38‘ climbing wall, sports bar, an ice rink, EPIC (the EWU Outdoor Adventure Program), student offices and meeting areas, locker rooms and administrative support spaces, and a parking garage for 44 vehicles.

The design is a blend of materials and forms found on other campus buildings, such as brick and precast concrete, and contemporary elements including curved metal roofs, aluminum curtain wall and high performance glazing. Due to the steep slope of part of the site, the lowest level is accessible on grade from the north, while the second level is accessible from the east and south. The interior spaces are organized around the ice rink which will provide a home for the EWU hockey team and for community recreation programs.

Watch a time-lapse video of the URC construction!

The University Recreation Center is a LEED Gold Certified project under the LEED For New Construction v 2.1 program. The project has many ‘green’ features that contributed to LEED Certification including:

• The project site has been redeveloped to much greater density. The site is adjacent to the student union and well served by bus lines, bike paths and pedestrian sidewalks.
• EWU has dedicated 200% of the building footprint as permanent, vegetated open space to earn both the SS 5.2 Open Space and ID1.2 Exemplary Performance in Open Space credits.
• 100% of the parking is in a covered parking garage at the Lower Level.
• Over 87% of the roof meets LEED requirements for Energy Star and emissivity, resulting in lower cooling costs.
• Native and adapted plant selections and high efficiency irrigation systems contribute to irrigation water savings of 71%.
• Efficient plumbing fixtures, such as dual flush toilets, low-flow faucets and showerheads, and waterless urinals contribute to a water savings of 47% (564,480 gallons per year).
• Energy-efficient building shell, HVAC and lighting systems contribute to annual energy savings of 24.7% compared to a ASHRAE 90.1-1999 base case, which will save EWU over $39,000 per year.
• Diversion of over 94% of the waste generated during construction from the landfill and to recycling, reuse or salvage, qualifying for both Construction Waste Management points.
• Recycled content materials comprise over 23% of the cost of the materials used.
• Regional materials manufactured within 500 miles comprise over 40% of the cost of the materials used, and of that number over 88% was also extracted, harvested or recovered locally.
• Indoor air quality is protected through many strategies, including:
  
  • Carbon dioxide sensors to increase outside air when needed
  • Increased ventilation effectiveness
  • Construction Indoor Air Quality Management during construction and also prior to occupancy
  • High efficiency air filters (MERV 13 rating) for air supply
  • Low emitting materials for adhesives, sealants, paints, carpets and composite wood materials
  • Permanent entryway systems to remove particulates as people come into the building

• The design also provides windows at key locations to allow views to the outside from 96% of the regularly occupied spaces in the building.