By University Communications
Tuesday, 01 24 2023

A&M-SA begins construction on multipurpose student recreation facility   

SAN ANTONIO — As Texas A&M University-San Antonio (A&M-SA) continues to be one of the fastest growing universities in the State of Texas, the University is further expanding facilities on campus. A&M-SA has begun construction on its new Student Recreation Center, which falls on the heels of the University’s ribbon cutting for the College of Business/Library Hall. The 22,322 square-foot recreation center is slated for completion in spring of 2024. 

“Our recreation center will be designed to enhance the student experience, improve recruitment, retention and magnify the brand of the University in an increasingly competitive marketplace,” said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports Darnell Smith. “As our students pursue their lofty academic goals, we seek to provide an equal opportunity for them to pursue their health and wellness goals with the new facility.” 

In November 2022, the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved the construction of the Student Recreation Center. The facility will include three primary large spaces – a gymnasium, a fitness/weight room and a set of locker rooms. The new multipurpose gymnasium will consist of a collegiate competition basketball court and two 84-foot-long recreation basketball courts which will be overlaid as cross courts. A fitness/weight room, approximately 3,400 square feet and one-and-a-half stories high, is adjacent to the gymnasium. 

“The recreation center is the culmination of several years of institutional effort to strengthen student life and recreation on campus. It is arguably the most student-driven and student-led construction project in the University’s history. An audacious future for recreational and athletic offerings for students is just around the corner,” said Student Government Association President Jacob Goldstein. 

The gym and fitness/weight room will have many users and facilitate a myriad of University programs, including strength and conditioning, kinesiology classes, ROTC program drills and exercises, convocations, career fairs, staff council meetings and various campus town halls, among others.   

“We’re extremely excited to have reached this important milestone for our students,” said Director of Recreational Sports Arturo Olague. “This facility will provide programming space for our student population, our sports clubs and the campus community. We are really excited for what the future holds as we move into the next chapter of recreational sports.” 

A&M-SA also plans for University staff to host camps, clinics and events in the facility, bringing community members to campus. Memberships for facility use will be offered to staff and faculty as well as the community. 

An official groundbreaking ceremony is planned for February 2023. 

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About Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Established as a stand-alone university in 2009, Texas A&M University-San Antonio is a comprehensive four-year public university that reflects the culturally diverse, heritage-rich community it serves. Situated on nearly 700 acres in South San Antonio, the University offers 37 undergraduate degrees and 19 graduate degrees to more than 7,300 students. A&M-San Antonio is home to the Henry G. Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders and the Cyber Engineering Technology/Cyber Security Research Center. The University holds the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation and is one of only 30 higher education institutions in the U.S. to have received the Seal of Excelencia certification from Excelencia in Education for its support of Latino student success. More than 77 percent of A&M-SA students identify as Hispanic, and approximately 60 percent are the first in their family to attend college. A&M-San Antonio is a military-embracing institution; in 2020, Military Times ranked the University No. 35 in the nation for “Best for Vets: Colleges.” Visit tamusa.edu for more information. #onamission