In an attempt to cut down on debt and building costs, the University of Memphis has halved their $62 million budget dedicated to the new fitness center. The project is also awaiting a new designer.
U of M Campus Planning and Design received approval from the Tennessee Board of Regents to revise their budget and select a new designer for the project. In a comment sent to the Board of Regents, it was said the original scope was not feasible to operate and maintain without increasing student fees.
The department posted applications for a new designer on the project on the Oct. 19. Tony Poteet, the director of Campus Planning and Design, said the original designer, the Crump Firm, received several other large commissions and that influenced the decision to change. The firm asked to be released from the project and was approved to do so.
“We wouldn’t want to short-change the university with someone who couldn’t dedicate their full attention to the project,†Poteet said. “We want to make this the best we can.â€
The new facility aims to focus on the promotion of student health, wellness and fitness, Poteet said. The objective of this project is to create a “social hub†for all manner of academic and recreational endeavors, according to a project fact sheet by U of M Campus Planning and Design.
The University plans to include a full-scale demonstration and teaching kitchen and café as well as healthy food and beverage options for students.
The U of M has now cut the budget for a future rec center in half after the designer for the center received several other commissions. Though the rec project now awaits a new designer, the university has filed a building permit application for a future parking garage and land bridge with the Shelby County Office of Constrution Code Enforcement.
Poteet said the creation of the new building was for possible expansion in the future if factors like enrollment increase. He said the university intends to staff and operate the new facility with the money saved from the reduced budget.
“We’re really excited about the whole development,†Poteet said. “By combining fitness and wellness together, we can give people access to skills that they may not have had and also encourage a healthy lifestyle.â€
The now $32 million project aims to produce a 74,000 square-foot building with a new academic focus to complement the pre-existing health studies department. Â
“Refining the design benefits us by allowing us to provide staff, maintenance and utilities to the facilities,†Poteet said. “The decision is in accordance with the discussions with SGA and the committee assigned to the project.â€
Poteet said the university plans to renovate the old rec center through maintenance funds. The old rec center will have new outdoor accommodations because the plan intends to remove the outdoor pool to allow for larger intramural fields, a walking track and sidewalks. By not tearing down the old facility, there is no required additional increase in student recreation and activity fees, Poteet said.
Students expressed their thoughts regarding the changes to the overall plan for the new facilities.
“I know that after many years we’re finally a football school, and it’s great that we’re making our student recreation facilities better fit for our campus,†Chris Weiner, a senior at the U of M, said. “However, there seem to be major changes every time new information is released about this facility.â€
Weiner doesn’t believe student funds will go to a stable project and is worried a portion of the money would be wasted by going above what the designers are willing to do.
“I would much rather have my funds go towards student safety, better food options and more recycling and clean energy initiatives and facilities,†Weiner said. “I know that whatever money will eventually be left over can afford at least some sort of progress in any of those areas.â€
