Leonard J.
Kaplan Center
for Wellness
When the university intentionally expanded their land holdings south of W. Gate City Boulevard, it envisioned a campus community anchored by a dynamic recreation center, surrounded by student housing and student-focused spaces.
Organized on three floor levels, the recreation center provides five general categories of space: gymnasia activity, administration office suite, personal training suite, outdoor adventures suite and support zone. The building form is driven by the functional organization of the spaces within so that spaces with high patron activity are on the north side (which provides a view from the exterior). The main concourse internally connects all the spaces on each level and is open from floor to floor to provide views both up and across the facility, level to level. Designed in collaboration with Walter Robbs Callahan & Pierce Architects, PA.
The Leonard J. Kaplan Center for Wellness continues UNCG's planned growth along W. Gate City Boulevard and bookends the recent Spartan Village development. An anchor for this part of campus the siting and location of the facility is in full compliance and support of the master plan. Further, the design complements all the university’s current planning efforts for this part of campus and strongly embraces the university’s sustainability principles.
When the university intentionally expanded its land holdings south of W. Gate City Boulevard, to significantly expand the campus’ physical boundaries, it envisioned a campus community anchored by a dynamic recreation center, surrounded by student housing and student-focused spaces to support UNCG’s quality of life.
The building is organized on three-floor levels and has an unbelievably high transparency interior.
Level Two is the main entry level, and users will enter the Center on this level. Here patrons can readily access many free zone spaces “in front” of the control desk, including the administrative office suite, a shared-use conference room, a club sports suite, an intramural suite, multi-purpose classrooms, and more. Just “beyond” the control desk patrons can readily access the main weights and fitness area, five of the seven gymnasium courts, equipment issue, functional / core training space, cycling room, racquetball courts, lounge areas, table tennis and billiards area, and more.
Level One is about forty percent of the building footprint, but it packs in a lot of action. This level provides space for two gym courts (35’ clear overhead) the natatorium with a 25Y x 25 M Lap Pool, a large Leisure Pool with a vortex and lounge ledge, locker rooms (traditional and family/gender neutral), the Outdoor Adventures suite with multipurpose meeting room, equipment storage, work area, climbing wall and bouldering wall, Team QUEST, significant collaboration and lounge spaces, and a significant outdoor sun deck and patio space off the pool deck.
Level Three is filled with activity and exercise space including the three-lane 1/8-mile jogging track, multiple group exercise spaces, an outdoor rooftop exercise patio, significantly more weights and fitness space, a mat room, and the personal training suite.