New NC State Rec Center Adds MoveStrong Functional Fitness

When Movestrong received an inquiry for the new Carmiachel Complex being built on campus we new it was going to be a special project on campus. MoveStrong had help to design the FitGround outdoor functional fitness area in 2016 for the University and was thrilled to get a call back to help with the new indoor functional fitness equipment needs. Many communications took place over a year of planning with layout and design for a specific MoveStrong Functional Training Stations to fit the space and training needs for the new complex. The MoveStrong Nova XL model was chosen for the space and customized with the training features desired along with matching school colors. MoveStrong coordinated installation for the Nova FTS on campus in the new complex as construction was completed. The Nova XL model was installed in the new functional training space in an open area for movement based exercises, agility, stretching next to artificial turf surfacing.

History And News On The New Student Rec Center:

“Currently scheduled to open in 2020, the Wellness and Recreation Center promises to be so much more than a gym. And with Talley Student Union across the street, the corner of Morrill and Cates will become a centralized hub for student life — a place that highlights the unique partnerships and campus services that support students every day.

Eric Hawkes, NC State’s executive director of Wellness and Recreation, can’t help but smile when he talks about the future. 

“A building is a building, but it’s what happens inside that really has an impact on students. We want to support students so they can be successful,” Hawkes said. “We’ve been very intentional about the features this building will include, and, in a larger sense, the new facility aligns with a whole host of changes we’ve made at Wellness and Recreation.”

Last year, University Recreation became Wellness and Recreation to better reflect the department’s focus on promoting holistic well-being and recreation while highlighting the importance of physical activity. 

Hawkes said spaces in the new facility will allow NC State’s student body to take full advantage of everything Wellness and Recreation offers. 

“People just think of a gym. They come in, work out, take their health and exercise studies classes and move on,” he said. “We’ll keep owning all of that, but today’s students want and need more. We’ve reshaped our entire department to look at all the different dimensions of a person.” 

Checking in at more than 82,000 square feet, the new facility will include functional training areas, fitness center space, a rock wall and dozens of multipurpose areas. It also will feature meeting space and a teaching kitchen, two items that align closely with the department’s new goals. 

“Yes, we do need new fitness space, but it’s more than that. Our design has been very purposeful. New meeting spaces will allow us to invite more campus partners who support wellness and provide them better access to students,” Hawkes said. “We see 80 percent of NC State’s undergraduate students, so we see our role expanding to ensure that students know about the services available to them. We can bring Financial Aid, Dining, staff from the Counseling Center and so many others to our space. That’s the special part of this project — we can have so much more of an impact on our student body.” 

Students Lead the Way

Hawkes said he’s proud that students have been involved in each step of the project, even dating to September 2015, when student leaders, Wellness and Recreation staff and university administrators first started discussing the new space. 

“Students have been involved in every facet of it. My job has been to advocate for them, and they have been so great in shepherding this project through,” he said. 

One of those students is Adam Schmidt, a senior in civil engineering. As a freshman, he was among a group of student government leaders selected to serve on a committee that would help steer the renovation process. Schmidt said Wellness and Recreation staff and university administrators have truly partnered with students. 

“It’s important that people know how much Wellness and Recreation has responded to student needs through this process,” Schmidt said. “They have been receptive, and they listen to suggestions. They would show us designs, ask us how to make changes, and they’ve even included us in the budgeting process throughout the construction.”

Schmidt, Hawkes and others even left campus to get a better sense of what the Wellness and Recreation Center could be. Members of the committee visited several universities in 2017, touring some of the newest wellness facilities in the country. 

“A gym is no longer a place where students want to go and just work out. It’s become a social hub and so much more,” Schmidt said. “It’s an expectation now that these buildings do more, and it’s been great to see that Wellness and Recreation supports it being a more comprehensive facility.”
- https://news.campaign.ncsu.edu/2019/05/more-than-a-gym-renovation-marks-new-chapter-for-wellness-and-recreation/

Other MoveStrong On Campus:

We are proud to offer a 4,000 square foot outdoor functional fitness area, known as the “FitGround.” Take your workout outside on Miller Field and use equipment such as dip bars, sit-up benches, wall ball targets, box jumps and cargo net.

NC State Wellness and Recreation empowers the Wolfpack community to thrive. Together, we explore and grow in these six elements of wellness: purpose, financial, physical, emotional, social and community.

We value movement and inspire behaviors that improve health and well-being. Our programs, services and facilities enhance academic success by assisting students in developing skills and resilience needed for college and beyond.

Mission

To inspire a culture of wellness by providing premier, innovative and inclusive programs, services and facilities that promote healthy, active lifestyles to enhance student success.

Vision

To inspire a thriving Wolfpack community.

-https://wellrec.dasa.ncsu.edu