Stony Brook University celebrated the opening of its new Campus Recreation Center, a brand new, state-of-the-art 85,000-square-foot health, fitness and well-being hub, at a commemorative ceremony held on October 19. Located between the Student Union and the Sports Complex, the Campus Recreation Center is a three-floor facility devoted entirely to the health and well-being of Stony Brook students, faculty and staff. It also includes two first-floor lounges with couches, televisions and wireless Internet access for relaxing and meeting with friends.
“With the Sports Complex on one side, the Student Union on the other, the Staller Center and the Melville Library just a stone’s throw away, and academic buildings all around, the addition of the new Campus Recreation Center will transform where we are standing now into a vibrant new hub of campus life,” said President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. “Students choose Stony Brook University because they want to receive a world-class education. Now we can promise a state-of-the-art resource to positively impact the health and well-being of the entire campus community. This is a very exciting moment indeed.”
The $37.5 million student-oriented facility features contemporary workout areas and space for quality intramural programs and sports club teams to practice and compete. It features glass windows spanning much of the exterior, making it visibly prominent and inviting, providing those on the outside with a view of the many diverse activities available within.
Amenities include a three-court gymnasium; an indoor Multi-Activity Court (MAC) for basketball, soccer, roller hockey, volleyball, badminton and sports club practices (the MAC has recessed goals and benches similar to an ice arena); three fitness studios; a wellness suite; nearly 17,000 square feet of combined free-weight, fitness, cardio and stretching space; a 1/10 mile track above the three-court gymnasium; locker rooms; sports club storage rooms; laundry facilities; student and administrative office space; and much more. The facility will provide employment for more than 80 students.
Future outdoor plans for the Campus Recreation Center include three fields for rugby, soccer, lacrosse, quidditch, field hockey, archery and ultimate frisbee. Students, faculty and staff will continue to utilize the Sports Complex for recreational swimming, racquetball and 
squash.
In his remarks, President Stanley thanked New York State Senators Kenneth P. LaValle and John Flanagan who were instrumental in securing funding for the Campus Recreation Center.
“Stony Brook has a world-class Campus Recreation Center that exceeds what peer institutions have on their campuses and it will go a long way in attracting the best and brightest to the University,” said Senator LaValle. “Additionally, our students, faculty and the community can look to the new center with pride as Stony Brook University produces not only the best and brightest, but best and most fit.”
The Campus Recreation Center will be open daily from 6 am to 12 am to members of the Stony Brook University community. Membership for undergraduate students is paid for in the Recreation Center and Field Fee, annual and seasonal memberships are available for faculty and staff, and at a reduced price for graduate students. Please click here for more information on becoming a member.
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