West Virginia University officials tentatively plan to open the new Student Recreation Center Monday, July 16.
Plans call for moving staff into the $34 million facility by the middle of next week in preparation for a final inspection by the fire marshals office Friday, July 13, said Scott Kelley, vice president of administration and finance.
“There are still a couple of safety issues we need to clear with the fire marshal, but I think were looking pretty good as far as meeting all of the requirements by the 13th,”he said.
Meanwhile, summer school students who have already paid a Rec Center fee will receive a 50 percent credit on that line item in their accounts, Kelley said. The facility was originally scheduled to open July 2the first day of Summer School IIand students enrolled this semester began paying the fee as part of their summer school account.
Full_time Summer School II students who paid a $45 Rec Center fee will have $22.50 credited to their accounts, Kelley said. Credits will be less for part_time students, who did not pay the full fee. Credits will automatically be applied against future tuition and fee charges, or students may request a refund check by contacting the Office of Student Accounts at 293_4006. It will take about two weeks for the credits to be processed.
The 170,000-square-foot Rec Center sits on a 12-acre site within walking distance of the Evansdale Residential Complex. Activities ranging from basketball and volleyball to swimming and weight-lifting will be possible at the facility.
Students approved an April 1997 referendum increasing fees to pay for the center; the fee increases amount to $90 for a regular semester and $45 for a summer semester. WVU employees and their families may also use the facility by purchasing a membership.
The Rec Center is one of four buildings included in the first phase of WVU s master facilities plan, a 10-year, $250 million campus renewal program. Other projects are a $43 million Life Sciences Building at the corner of University Avenue and Campus Drive, a $36 million consolidated downtown library complex and a $26 million office complex on Morgantowns waterfront.