Landmark Student Life Center Opens at the University of Utah
The George S. Eccles Student Life Center is located on the east side of the University of Utah campus, near the Legacy Bridge and Fort Douglas TRAX stop. (Photo by Dave Titensor)
The long-awaited George S. Eccles Student Life Center opened its doors in January. The 183,000-square-foot, $50.5 million building houses two gymnasiums, a four-story climbing wall, indoor and outdoor pools, large areas for cardio and weight training, and more.
“We have been preparing for this facility for many years, and I am thrilled that students will have such an extraordinary place to engage in their college experience, build friendships, and develop skills they will use for the rest of their lives,” says Barbara Snyder, the U’s vice president for student affairs.
This four-story climbing wall is one of the highlights in the 183,000-square-foot building. (Photo by Jeff Bagley)
In addition to athletic and recreational features, the building houses a café, a University Credit Union branch, and social space, as well as offices of the Center for Student Wellness, Outdoor Adventures Program, and Campus Recreation Services. The facility is now the campus hub for fitness training, intramural sports, and outdoor recreation. The center also serves as the premier location for students, faculty, and staff to gather and develop lifelong healthy habits.
A dedication for the new center was held February 26, featuring Snyder and U President David W. Pershing, as well as Justin Spangler, president of the Associated Students of the University of Utah, and Neela Pack HBS’13, a former ASUU president who helped spur the project. Spencer F. Eccles, chairman and chief executive officer of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, also spoke at the dedication.
The landmark facility was made possible through financial support from a number of sources, including the generous lead naming gift from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, along with major gifts from Kem BA’67 JD’70 and Carolyn Gardner BS’69 and the University Credit Union. Two-thirds of the building is funded by a new $60-per-semester student fee.
The center features a 50-meter indoor pool, indoor and outdoor leisure pools, and an indoor hot tub and spa. (Photo by Jeff Bagley)
To give students the best access to the facility as possible, it will serve only University students, as well as faculty and staff members who purchase a membership for $275 per year. All for-credit physical education classes continue to be held in the HPER building, fields, and various off-campus locations, and standalone fitness classes are also available in those locations for both Alumni Association members and University faculty and staff.
Located just west of the George S. Eccles 2002 Legacy Bridge and adjacent to the Fort Douglas TRAX stop, the Student Life Center helps connect student life with academic life and create a more engaged campus community.
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Student video game developers from the University of Utah’s Entertainment Arts & Engineering (EAE) video game program have won Best Student Game in the Serious Games Showcase & Challenge in Orlando, Florida. The award was announced in December for their two-player action game Cyber Heist. The PC game is an adventure where two players who portray college students try to infiltrate the Department of Education in the year 2114 to erase their student debt from the agency’s computers. It took a team of 13 EAE graduate students a year and a half to create Cyber Heist, says the game’s lead designer, Jake Muehle BS’12 MS’14, who graduated last May with a master’s degree in Entertainment Arts & Engineering. Cyber Heist was one of 18 finalists worldwide competing for awards in the contest. In addition to winning Best Student Game, the team of U students also received $30,000. Download the Cyber Heist game here. Read a previous Continuum feature on the EAE program here.