Wake Forest University Celebrates Grand Opening of Newly-Renovated Gymnasium
The transformed gymnasium reflects the university's leadership among institutions focused on enhancing all aspects of personal well-being
RDG Planning & Design recently celebrated the official opening of Wake Forest University’s newly renovated Reynolds Gymnasium. Located in the campus’s Wellbeing Center, the transformed gymnasium reflects the university's leadership among institutions focused on enhancing all aspects of personal well-being. Wake Forest celebrated the completion of the renovation and transformation with a campus grand opening ceremony on March 28th, 2018.
Design for the 180,000-SF space transforms the original 60-year-old gymnasium, a longstanding workhorse of Wake Forest’s Reynolda Campus, into a new home for expanded and renovated facilities serving student recreation and wellness, student health services and women’s volleyball. Reynolds Gymnasium now boasts wide open spaces and abundant natural light, a welcome change from the original 1950s design.
“This facility is so much more than a gym – it reflects Wake Forest’s leadership among universities focused on enhancing all aspects of personal well-being,” said RDG Architect and Principal Jack Patton, AIA, LEED AP. “Early in the planning stages for the renovated facility, the students made it clear they wanted Reynolds to be more than a gym. So, we made social space (not a significant feature in many campus recreation and wellness centers) a priority when redesigning the building. The result is a hub for well-being that not only triples the amount of fitness space available on campus but features a new lounge space ideal for socializing, conversation, relaxation or studying.”
Taking a gym built in the 1950s, when bi-level and tri-level construction was popular, and creating a place with open spaces and an abundance of natural light presented some design and construction challenges. To meet some of the challenges, work was completed in phases and RDG collaborated with the university, students, consultants and contractors to bring this project to life.
Completed in 2016, phase one focused on the Sutton Center, a remarkable two-story addition to the 60-year-old gym. It’s the first of three phases to turn Reynolds Gymnasium into a hub for campus-wide well-being and provides 46,000 SF of space for fitness programming and campus activities connected to Reynolds Gym by a floor-to-ceiling glass atrium.
Completed in 2017, phase two created space for new state-of-the-art fitness equipment, a 3,000-SF open living room, a bouldering and climbing wall and fitness space for weight training and other activities.
Completed in 2018, phase three is highlighted by the opening of an eight-lane indoor pool, which replaces the original 1956 pool. In addition, it includes more than 50,000 SF of enhanced fitness, recreation and social spaces, including group fitness studios for students, faculty and staff, multipurpose rooms for intramural and club sports, and a varsity court for the volleyball team.
“Our vision for a residential community includes creating spaces that enhance all aspects of students’ well-being. We have no greater priority than to provide our students and our community with a place in which they can thrive,” said current Wake Forest University President Nathan Hatch.
This prominent facility allows state-of-the-art programs to be organized with a high degree of transparency, creating a visually dynamic experience throughout. The $58 million project was funded by leadership gifts through the Wake Will Lead campaign.