The Basler Center for Physical Activity might be growing in size in the near future. The CPA is in the planning process of a two-part project that will cost $7 million. Currently, the project is awaiting the new capital budget to be approved in July. The plan includes expanding the current building 20,000 square feet on the side facing toward State of Franklin Road as well as adding three more intramural fields.Bill Rasnick, associate vice president of facilities management, said an additional basketball court, that will probably be larger than a regulation-sized court, is part of this plan.

“I don’t know if they talked about indoor soccer or hockey, but there was some discussion that they would like to make it bigger than the existing basketball courts.”

There are various avenues the CPA is looking at when it comes to expansion ideas, said Lynn Nester, director of campus recreation.

“Whether it is an additional basketball court or some kind of program space has not been determined,” Nester said.

“We have some ideas of what we need and what we would like to see.”

In regards to the expansion possibilities, Rasnick talked about how they would like to add more weight machines and elliptical trainers in the lower and upper sections of the building. There is also a possibility for additional group fitness rooms he said.

“They actually need some space for more studio type space where they have aerobics,” said Rasnick.

The CPA will not have a separate wing when the construction is complete, but will look as though the construction period never took place, said Rasnick. Rasnick also said that for the most part, the construction process will not affect students and their time at the CPA.

“The new addition would be built before you tear down any of the walls,” Rasnick said. “Toward the end, you would have to tear down walls, but it will be a minimal impact on the students.”

Rasnick projects that, if everything goes as planned, construction on the building will begin some time in 2012 and be finished at some point in 2013.

The second part of the project, which will also be included in the $7 million, involves the building of three intramural fields on the southeast corner. This area is a 15-acre plot of land at the corner of Greenwood Drive and Seminole Drive.

Legitimate softball fields, along with other places to play intramural sports, are something that students need for all seasons, said Nester, who took over as director of campus recreation this past March.

“We don’t have any dedicated intramural softball fields,” Nester said.

“We want to put two or three dedicated softball fields, with an outfield, that will have different program spaces. Whether it is intramural soccer or flag football, there are different combinations of fields that we could have.”

Rasnick talked about how these would be multi-purpose fields with restrooms and parking. Additionally, Rasnick said that the fields will have artificial turf as a playing surface.

Rasnick believes that these fields could be ready to play on by fall 2012.

Nester, who previously worked as director of campus recreation at Emory University, noted how amazing it is that the university and President Stanton have taken notice of the importance of quality facilities for the student body.

“This building was opened in 2002 and to now be talking about an expansion in just nine years is pretty amazing,” Nester said. “We are very fortunate that people across campus are very supportive and realize that the need is here for a bigger facility.

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