NEWS & ARTICLES

The grand opening for University of North Florida’s Student Wellness Complex was held on October 17th.  The students and staff were very please with this grand building that was designed in conjunction with Dewberry, Inc. and built by Gilbane Building, Co. This facility marks the 8th large scale recreational center that our firm has completed in Florida.

The multifaceted, 19.5 million dollar facility is a state-of-the-art wellness, fitness and sports learning facility that offers UNF students, faculty and staff unlimited access to the largest, most comprehensive wellness center in northeast Florida. Striving to enhance  students’ “out of the classroom experience”, the project was funded through the efforts of Student Government who voted to create a building fee in order to fund the project. The goal of the new facility is to provide the students with quality indoor facilities that will enable them to participate in activities that will enhance their health and wellness levels and provide them with lifelong wellness, sports and fitness learning skills for the future.

A 32-foot tall climbing wall greets the students upon entry into the 3-level building. The wall looks like real rock and rises 34 feet up to meet the track level giving views of all activity on all floors. Three dedicated indoor group fitness rooms and one outdoor multi-use balcony group fitness space will enable us to offer four classes at one time and over 50 per week. The Dottie Dorion Fitness Center, located on the 2nd level is 27,000 sf of fitness floor space and accommodates $900,000 of new fitness equipment. The 1/8 mile track on the 3rd level circumnavigates the perimeter of the building giving views of the fitness level, atrium, and fantastic outdoor views through its large windows.

The Dr. Paul Shirley Assessment Center is located off the fitness floor space. This will offers students immediate access to personal fitness and nutritional assessments. New locker rooms feature large lockers, and comfortable shower and changing accommodations. The departments for Campus Recreation and Health Promotions are located in the new facility. For those who want a healthy snack or meal a “ Jamba Juice” outlet is located in the lobby of the new facility.

Across the street from the Student Union and adjacent to the UNF Arena and Aquatic Center, the new facility creates a complete hub for student activity on the campus. The new facility is taking Healthy Ospreys to a new level. Just like the Student Union, the new facility has become a major recruitment tool for UNF and future Ospreys.