RecSports Expansion: The Beginning of Revitalizing Recreation Spaces at the University of Florida

UF RecSports has enlisted the help of students and consulting firms to pursue a potential $500 million investment in recreational infrastructure on campus.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ask any student at the University of Florida (UF) about their experience at the recreational spaces around campus, many will probably allude to the same thing. Lack of space. 

 According to a survey where 2,500 were polled, students at the University of Florida cited a lack of space as being the number one barrier to using the recreational facilities at UF. Students love using these recreational spaces (the findings of the survey demonstrate that), but students want, and need, more of it.  

UF RecSports is aware of the issues they are facing. Now, they are taking concrete steps to solve it. 

Partnering with SmithGroup, an award-winning architecture firm that builds infrastructure projects on a large scale, UF RecSports and SmithGroup are in the process of developing a 10-year master plan to address space, amenities, and infrastructural needs of the recreational spaces on campus. 

“The purpose of this master planning process is to really create a clear vision, so that everyone is onboard,” said Laura Hall, senior director of UF RecSports. “Currently do this. Want to be able to do this? The [master plan] is the road to get there.” 

The gap between UF RecSports’ total square footage with other SEC schools and Tier-1 research universities is tremendous. According to Hall, UF RecSports is last in the SEC and second-to-last among the top 10 public universities in terms of total square footage in recreational space. 

“We have less than half of the national standard of square footage,” Hall said. “We’re not even close. Even if we built another facility, we wouldn’t be even close to average.” 

With “square footage” being an all-encompassing term, there are many ways to break down the different types of square footage space. Marty Dempsey, director of facilities and operations for UF RecSports, highlighted the challenges of balancing types of square footage space and the logistical puzzles presented with the limited space on campus. 

“It is important to understand that we’re not only deficient in the general standards, but what kinds of square footage and types of space we are deficient in,” Dempsey said. “Putting a basketball court or a multi-activity court space requires a lot of square footage. Sometimes you have to get creative, and sometimes you are strapped based on what is required within the space.” 

Taking space into account, Dempsey and the UF RecSports team have traveled to campuses across the country, examining their recreation centers for inspiration. Many universities, such as the University of Pittsburgh, have become creative in tight quarters. Dempsey highlighted that though a nine-story facility like theirs is not feasible in Gainesville, thinking outside the box will be required with the current space available on campus. 

“We are trying to understand how we get creative because there aren’t many spaces on campus that are available,” Dempsey said. 

Regarding the students’ role in the project, the UF RecSports team wanted to ensure that students are not just a part of the process but are central to the ongoing project. When considering a design firm to contract the master plan with, the UF RecSports team wanted to ensure that the contractors would allow extensive student collaboration with the project. 

Nathaniel Thomas, a third-year student who serves on the UF RecSports Board of Directors, has had the opportunity to be a part of some of the strategic planning focus groups held by SmithGroup. In these meetings, Thomas and other students have provided input and perspectives that will be integrated into the final plan. 

“I’m excited to have a say and to be able to represent the student body on this project,” Thomas said. “Overall, it’s just really cool to have a voice and to be able to give input on decisions regarding the project.” 

In the student feedback survey sent out by UF RecSports, and in the various conversations and focus groups held with students, the biggest issue students brought up was a lack of space. 

“Our facilities are overcrowded. Over half of the respondents to the survey listed that as a barrier,” Dempsey said. 

Dempsey and Hall both agree that the biggest challenge of this entire project is getting everyone excited about the project. Dempsey stressed the importance of student buy-in, and how this project will not be successful if students don’t get excited. 

“Our students should care about this. We can’t do this by ourselves,” Hall said. “We spend student dollars every day, and if they aren’t the primary stakeholder, we’re missing the mark.” 

Thomas, who has been an active student voice in the student focus group process, is passionate about spreading the word to students, ensuring they “buy in” to the project. Beyond allowing students to make their legacy by being involved with this campus-wide project, Thomas hopes that this project will bring up the physical well-being of UF as a whole.