The Auraria Event Center, which houses Campus Recreation at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver), was built in 1977. The first-floor locker rooms had not been renovated since the 1990s — until now. Below, Diane Yee, the director of Campus Recreation at MSU Denver, answers questions about the renovation and how it will enhance the campus community experience:
Campus Recreation: What brought on the need for a locker room renovation?
Diane Yee: Our locker rooms were quite old and outdated. The remodel allowed us to use the existing footprint from the women and men’s locker rooms to create a total of eight locker rooms: two gender-inclusive, one women, one men, two visiting teams and two officials, plus public restrooms for women, men and families. The remodel provides better utilization of the existing space, as well as features that will address the diverse needs of our inclusive campus community.
CR: What are the main features of the renovation?
DY: The campus recreation locker rooms features include:
- Individual shower stalls with a separate dry area, allowing for a private changing space.
- Changing rooms similar to clothing store fitting rooms with a locking door and mirror.
- Lockers that conceal its contents and include a built-in four-digit lock, two hooks and a shelf.
- Wheelchair accessible lockers are offered on the bottom row and have an additional shelf set 14-inches from the floor.
- Wall-mounted hair dryers.
- Bins for recycling and compost.
CR: Were any of these features to meet a campus need?
DY: As a commuter campus, it’s important to provide a space for our students to freshen up and get ready for the day, whether they are off to class or work. Having a place where they can leave items securely on campus and a welcoming place to shower was important to the university.
CR: How do these renovations enhance the campus community experience?
DY: The renovations have been well received by our campus, but the new gender-inclusive locker rooms will particularly benefit the LGBTQ community, families and those needing assistance. The updated lighting, fixtures, and amenities provide a more welcoming and secure atmosphere.
