Client: Montclair State University
My Role: Project Manager (Local Architect)
Architect of Record: RDG Sports

Local Architect: Ecoplan
Contractor: Controlled Construction
Photographers: Mike Peters

Project Area: 78,000 SF

Project Description:

This open and welcoming Student Recreation Center maximizes design intents: student views into the building, views of the exterior from inside, interior openness and views of activity areas, social environment, and zoning for simultaneous use. Large expanses of glass provide dynamic views into the Cardio Fitness Area. Views to the Manhattan skyline are provided from the first floor Cardio/Weights Area, the second floor Cardio Area, the Juice Bar, and the Jog/Walk Track. The entrance provides a flood of views to activity areas. Clearly designed to echo the Spanish Mission style, the building's structural forms and large amounts of glass offer a distinct and dynamic image, and provide visual clues to the activities housed inside.

Montclair State University’s Student Recreation Center has been selected as a winner of the Innovative Architecture and Design Award by Recreation Management, a magazine that features and recognizes distinguished sports, recreation, and fitness facilities. The May 2010 issue of Recreation Management recognized the Student Recreation Center as one of nine unique recreation centers across the country that showed outstanding design, and led in solving design problems in innovative ways.

The facility features 78,000 square feet with 10,000 devoted to fitness space, multipurpose court space, jogging/walking track, two multipurpose rooms, two racquetball courts, an indoor six-lane 25-yard pool, locker rooms and administrative offices. Eric Kocher, one of the judges and design principal/sport and recreation specialist with Hastings & Chivetta Architects, says that “exterior architecture within context of the existing campus architecture is excellent. Lobby image is fantastic and departs from most traditional student recreation centers. Views to the city are terrific.”

The second award from this magazine, the Montclair State Student Recreation Center received its first award in 2009 from New Jersey Recreation Association for its “uniqueness in design.”