LUBBOCK, TX -- The student rec center at Texas Tech University is getting a makeover this summer that includes new cardio and strength equipment, as well as updated flooring.

The 242,000-square-foot rec center features a 6,530-square-foot free weight room, a circuit training room with selectorized strength equipment and two cardio equipment areas. New cardio equipment will include ellipticals, treadmills and stair steppers.

To promote durability, the rec center staff chose to replace carpet with rubberized floor tiles in high-traffic areas of the facility, according to Joe MacLean, director of recreational sports.

“The rec center always had carpet in all the high-traffic areas,” MacLean says. “Since it opened, we’ve gone through three re-carpetings, and even though we loved carpeting for noise reduction, we felt we wanted to try something else.”

He says the center originally opened in 1980 and underwent a major renovation in 2002, which is the last time new carpet was installed.
Indoor areas of the rec center also will get a fresh coat of paint over the summer. The renovation is expected to be complete by August.

Funds for the project were allocated in the annual budget, not paid for with student fees, MacLean says.

“The funds came out of our existing budget,” he says. “We always try to put money into reserve every year for projects like this.”

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