As summer comes to an end and students start flocking back to school, big changes begin at Towson University in Towson, Maryland. The recreation center, Burdick Hall, on campus will undergo a 94,000 square foot addition.
Construction is set to being this month. According to Julie Miller, assistant director for marketing and communications, the expansion is a result of the universities growing population over the past few years. The goal of the new facility is to accommodate this increase in enrollment and continued growth for several years to come.
The expansion will add several new and exciting features to Burdick Hall, which already includes a 25-yard, 8-lane pool, three basketball courts and fitness center. “Once finished the improved center will feature two multi-purpose athletic courts, elevated sprint hill, a mind body studio, cycling studio, combat studio and an American Ninja Warrior style obstacle course,” said Tia Freiburger, associate director of facilities and operations. “The expansion will also include 22,000 square feet of fitness space for strength, cardio and functional training. There will be more general fitness space for more equipment as well.”
The expansion project will create minimal interruptions of current recreation programs and services. “The current facility will remain open during construction, but there will be some changes student will have to work around for a few years,” explained Miller. “We will be moving our fitness equipment to another area and things like that, but we plan to provide everything a much as we can just with perhaps some limited space.”
If everything goes according to plan, the expansion will be complete by summer 2017, just in time for the new school year.
