Skanska Completes $91M Rec Center at UNCG

By IvyLee Rosario

Greensboro, N.C.—Skanska USA announced it has completed work on the Leonard J. Kaplan Center for Wellness at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The 216,000-square-foot structure is now two times the size of the building it replaced, housing features such as 20,000 square feet of weight and fitness space, lap and activity pools, seven basketball courts and a 54-foot climbing wall among other wellness spaces and classrooms.

Leonard J. Kaplan Center for Wellness, rendering

Designed to accommodate the influx of the university population, the center is open to students, faculty, staff and alumni of the university. The new Kaplan Center development is seeking LEED Silver certification and offers several social spaces and seating areas where students can relax, play billiards, shuffle board, video games and table tennis.

“Studies have shown that students who participate in recreation and wellness programs are more resilient and successful both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Dr. Jill Beville, director of recreation and wellness at UNCG, in prepared remarks. “Having a space where students can relax with their peers and build friendships is a major contributor to a healthy campus culture and a great outlet during stressful times.”

The building is set to keep up with high-demand activities such as group fitness, weight machines, outdoor adventures, informal recreation, cardiovascular fitness, free weights, intramural and club sports and Team QUEST.

“Today’s university students are interested in maintaining physical activity and recreation as part of a healthy lifestyle,” said Greg Peele, general manager & executive vice president of Skanska USA Building for North Carolina/Virginia operations, in prepared remarks. “The Kaplan Center gives UNCG room to cater to a community with a wide variety of interests and fitness needs in a beautiful, functional space that will quickly become a center of campus life.”

Student Recreation Center, interior rendering

In addition to the vast physical component of the building, the property also serves as a gathering and event space with meeting rooms and multi-purpose areas for student training, workshops and seminars, student organizations, special events and academic classes.

“As soon as you walk in the door, you have access to everything—the pools, outdoor adventures programs and all the other activity spaces. That’s something we didn’t have in the other facility,” added Beville. “We’re really excited about the variety of equipment, programming and educational opportunities offered at the new facility.”

Skanska provided preconstruction and construction management services through a joint-venture with Rentenbach Constructors for the $91 million project. A $5 million donation in honor of late local philanthropist Leonard J. Kaplan, of which the building is named, forms the basis for an endowment to support health and wellness programs at the center.

Images courtesy of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro